Trump envoys mediate 'gradual' progress in Ukraine-Russia military dialogue
Military officials from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have achieved incremental yet pivotal progress in defining a ceasefire mechanism during trilateral negotiations in Geneva.
According to sources familiar with the talks, the military track has successfully outlined the technical "rules of engagement" and criteria for armistice violations. While the military dialogue has injected a sense of cautious optimism among participants, the parallel political discussions remain strained.
Strategic coordination in Switzerland
The military working groups operated under the coordination of special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The discussions were led by U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and General Alexus Grynkewich, head of U.S. European Command.
The primary objective was to secure a bilateral agreement on the practical conditions of a ceasefire. These technical benchmarks are intended to serve as the foundation for future political settlements.
The road to a final agreement
The Geneva summit, held between February 17–18, also addressed the deployment of an international monitoring mission and an armistice focused on energy infrastructure. Kirill Budanov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, described the sessions as "difficult but essential."
Despite the progress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned that while the process has reached its final stages, Russia continues to employ stalling tactics.
A fourth round of negotiations is expected to take place in Switzerland before the end of February to finalize the political framework of the agreement.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
