US, Ukraine to discuss post-war reconstruction at Geneva talks

Previous Geneva talks have failed to deliver progress on key issues

A police vehicle patrols outside the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva as police secure the city on the day of US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb 26, 2026. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy

Ukrainian negotiators were due to meet US officials on Thursday in Geneva for talks on post-war reconstruction, including a "prosperity package" of funding to rebuild Ukraine's economy, despite a deadlock in peace negotiations with Russia.

The conversations with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were expected to begin around lunchtime, a Ukrainian official said. The Ukrainian delegation was not expected to speak to the media afterwards.

Also on Thursday in Geneva, Witkoff and Kushner are due to hold a third round of indirect talks over Iran's nuclear program with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, mediated by Oman.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump and agreed that the next session of trilateral talks with Russia in March should lead to a meeting of the countries' leaders to tackle the most sensitive outstanding issues.

"This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war," Zelensky said after the call, which Witkoff and Kushner also participated in.

Proceeding with the reconstruction of Ukraine after the destruction wrought by Russian aerial strikes and frontline combat has become a major element in broader talks on how to end the war, which entered its fifth year this week.

Kyiv hopes to attract about $800 billion of public and private funds over the next 10 years to rebuild the country.

The latest assessment from the World Bank released on Monday showed that rebuilding Ukraine's economy will cost an estimated $588 billion. The assessment is based on data from Feb 24, 2022, through Dec 31, 2025.

The US has been pressing Ukraine to find a way to end Europe's biggest conflict since World War Two. But Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart in their positions.

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met last week in Geneva for their third US-mediated meeting so far this year but failed to reach any breakthrough on key sticking points, including territory.

Russia says Ukraine must cede the final 20 percent of the industrialised and heavily fortified eastern region of Donetsk that it still controls. Ukraine says it will not relinquish territory that thousands have died to defend.