US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (February 14th) as efforts to negotiate an end to the Ukraine-Russia war intensify ahead of planned talks in Geneva next week. The two representatives discussed security cooperation, defense ties and preparations for trilateral talks involving the US, Ukraine and Russia.
Trump is pushing for an end to the bloodshed
In a post on X, Rubio shared a photo with Zelensky and wrote that President Donald Trump “wants a solution that will end the bloodshed once and for all,” underscoring the administration’s goal of bringing lasting peace to the nearly four-year conflict.
Preparations are underway for the Geneva peace talks
Zelenskyy said he also spoke with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of the planned meetings in Geneva, which his administration expects to be “really productive,” according to his X post.
He noted further developments after recent talks in Abu Dhabi, though he added that “not everything can be shared over the phone” and that his negotiating team would present Ukraine’s position next week.
Wider diplomatic engagement in Munich
Rubio also said he discussed ending the war in Ukraine with his Group of Seven counterparts at the Munich conference, along with efforts to promote global peace and stability.
War and Diplomacy
Ukraine’s war, now in its fourth year, continues to be heavily fought even as diplomatic efforts escalate. Peace talks scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva are seen as a critical test of whether a ceasefire or a broader agreement can be reached, with both Kiev and Washington stressing the need for a permanent and lasting peace.
Previous talks failed to break the deadlock
Previous US-led diplomatic efforts to broker a consensus to end the war between Ukraine and Russia have failed to overcome key issues, despite several rounds of negotiations.
The latest attempts – two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates – did not bring any breakthrough. While officials described the discussions as constructive, they ultimately stalled on fundamental issues that continue to divide Kyiv and Moscow.
At the center of the impasse is the future of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, an industrial heartland that has been largely occupied by Russian forces since the first months of the conflict. Ukraine says any peace deal must respect its territorial integrity and sovereignty, while Russia seeks recognition of its control over the occupied territories.