Trump urges Kyiv to “come to the table fast” ahead of Geneva talks

US President Donald Trump said Kyiv should seriously engage in negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine, urging Ukrainian officials to participate actively in upcoming talks.

“So far, Ukraine better come to the table fast. That's all I'm telling you,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while commenting on the planned consultations in Geneva. “We want them to come,” he added, describing the forthcoming discussions as straightforward. “It's going to be very easy,” the US leader said.

Geneva is scheduled to host the next round of Russia–US–Ukraine consultations on February 17–18. Russia’s delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and include around 20 members. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would be represented by Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff as well as Trump’s son-in-law, entrepreneur Jared Kushner. The first two rounds of negotiations took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23–24 and February 4–5.

Ukrainian officials, however, argue that Moscow remains unwilling to compromise on its broad territorial and political demands and continues military operations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media on February 16: “Even on the eve of the trilateral meetings in Geneva, the Russian army has no orders other than to continue striking Ukraine. This speaks volumes about how Russia regards the partners’ diplomatic efforts.”

“Only with sufficient pressure on Russia and clear security guarantees for Ukraine can this war realistically be brought to an end,” Zelenskyy added.

The conflict has evolved into Europe’s deadliest war since World War II, leaving hundreds of thousands dead, forcing millions of Ukrainians to flee their homes, and causing widespread destruction across eastern and southern regions of the country.

Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow seized in 2014, as well as areas captured by Russian-backed forces before the 2022 invasion. Moscow has demanded that Ukrainian troops withdraw from strategically important and heavily fortified territories as part of any potential peace agreement.

Kyiv has rejected these demands, describing them as politically and militarily unacceptable, and instead insists on strong Western security guarantees before agreeing to any settlement proposals.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has recently achieved notable battlefield gains, recapturing 201 square kilometres (78 square miles) over the past week, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War. Analysts said the counterattacks were likely aided by Russian forces’ reduced access to Starlink satellite communications, which disrupted coordination.

Most of the reclaimed territory lies about 80 kilometres east of the city of Zaporizhzhia, an area where Russian troops had made significant advances since last summer. The broader region is also home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, currently under Russian control — another key issue complicating negotiations.

By Tamilla Hasanova