US President Donald Trump is speaking by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as efforts intensify to organise new three-way negotiations with Russia, according to a report by Axios.

Fresh Diplomatic Push

Ukraine confirmed that chief negotiator Rustem Umerov will meet US envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday. The meeting will take place ahead of proposed trilateral talks with Russia expected in early March.

Zelenskyy said the discussion will help prepare for the broader session. “Tomorrow he will meet with American negotiators Witkoff and [Jared] Kushner,” Zelenskyy told reporters.

The talks form part of Washington’s ongoing attempt to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began four years ago and has now entered its fifth year.

Agenda Includes POWs and Reconstruction

Zelenskyy said Thursday’s meeting will also cover humanitarian and economic issues. Other agenda items include prisoner-of-war exchanges and a “prosperity package” for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

An adviser to Umerov confirmed that the meeting will take place in Geneva. The city previously hosted negotiations between Russian, Ukrainian, and US officials earlier this month.

Limited Progress So Far

Despite several rounds of talks, the two sides remain far apart. Moscow demands full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Kyiv has rejected any agreement that does not include firm security guarantees to prevent future attacks.

Witkoff earlier confirmed the upcoming discussions. He said the goal was to “explore different iterations about how we might get to a peace deal.”

War Enters Fifth Year

The United States continues to push for a negotiated settlement. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and caused massive destruction across eastern and southern Ukraine.

However, major disagreements remain. Moscow and Kyiv still dispute territorial control and the terms of any future peace arrangement.