Zelenskyy speaks with Trump about peace efforts, eyes leaders-level talks

Conversation precedes meeting between US and Ukrainian envoys in Geneva on Thursday.Published On 25 Feb 2026Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with United States President Donald Trump about ongoing peace negotiations with Russia, which he expects to soon progress into a leaders-level meeting.Zelenskyy said the phone conversation, joined by US envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, took place Wednesday night before US and Ukrainian officials meet in Geneva for more discussions.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Ukraine alleges Russia enlists more than 1,700 Africans to fightlist 2 of 4Russia ‘has not won’ as Ukraine war enters fifth year, Zelenskyy sayslist 3 of 4Three myths about the Russia economic warlist 4 of 4Fatigue and tension in Russia four years after Ukraine invasionend of listThe call lasted half an hour, according to Ukrainian presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn.Trump and Zelenskyy covered issues on the agenda for the meeting, as well as preparations for the next round of trilateral discussions that will include Russian officials, expected in early March.“We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders’ level,” said Zelenskyy, adding that would be “the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war”.The Ukrainian president previously called for a direct meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to tackle outstanding issues in negotiations.Prisoner swap on the tableThursday’s meeting in Geneva brings together Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, and Kushner and Witkoff, said Kyiv.It will address details of a possible post-war recovery plan for Ukraine, preparations for the upcoming trilateral meeting with Moscow officials in March, and a potential prisoner swap, according to Zelenskyy.Separately, Russia’s economic affairs envoy Kirill Dmitriev will be in the city to meet US negotiators “on economic issues”, the state-run TASS news agency cited an unnamed diplomatic source as saying.