Washington and Kyiv held informal discussions in Geneva on Thursday to map out reconstruction plans for the war-torn country and prepare for another round of talks involving Russia next week. Behind the scenes, Switzerland quietly handled the logistics, reinforcing its reputation as a dependable organiser.<\/p>\n
Donald Trump\u2019s peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were back in Geneva on Thursday for a marathon day of negotiations. The all-purpose duo stuck to their trademark approach \u2013 shuttling from one side of the lake to juggle two of the world\u2019s most high-stakes diplomatic tracks. Informal discussions with Ukraine \u2013 at a lower level than last week, as Russia didn\u2019t take part \u2013 were held at the Four Seasons Hotel on the right bank of the Rhone, squeezed between two rounds of indirect nuclear talks with Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are focused on practical solutions,\u201d Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine\u2019s National Security and Defense Council and chief negotiator, wrote on X as the meeting began.<\/p>\n
The informal meeting follows last week\u2019s collapse of talks involving Russia and is expected to lay the groundwork for another round of trilateral talks next week. Ukrainian parliamentarian Davyd Arakhamia, who also joined the Ukrainian delegation, is overseeing preparations, which Umerov said would require \u201csynchronising positions\u201d.<\/p>\n
After holding a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said both sides want to elevate the process to a \u201cleader level\u201d after next week\u2019s trilateral meeting. That same evening, Russian strikes pummeled several Ukrainian cities \u2013 a reminder that while diplomats work out a deal, the war continues unabated.<\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s recovery at stake<\/p>\n