U.S. and russian officials have met in Switzerland for informal talks on the war in Ukraine in recent months, including last week, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter.
Two of the sources said the participants had diplomatic and security experience but were not government officials and it was not immediately clear whether they were sent by their governments. The sources declined to name the participants.
They also described the talks as a “side channel” with some contacts taking place during the transition period after U.S. President Donald Trump’s election victory on November 5.
One of the sources, who is directly involved in the matter, said at least a small number of Trump’s advisers were aware of the meetings.
Many other details remain unclear, including whether Ukrainians were present, when the meetings began and what was on the agenda.
One source described the talks in Switzerland as “Track Two” discussions, a diplomatic term for informal dialogue aimed at improving communication and exchanging ideas rather than developing concrete proposals.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry said that meetings between parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine on a “Track Two” basis were held regularly in Switzerland and that it was informed about them. Organized by non-state actors, they allow for an exchange of views without the direct involvement of governments, the statement said.
“These activities help to sustain diplomatic efforts relating to the conflict,” the Ministry said.
Two sources said at least one meeting took place in Geneva during last week’s Munich Security Conference, which brought together international political leaders and security chiefs in the German city.
Last year, Reuters reported on separate Track Two talks in 2023 and early 2024, when putin signaled he was willing to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine. Those talks, it turned out, ended inconclusively.
Historically, Track Two talks have helped to foster dialogue between partners who deeply distrust each other, in the hope that better communication could lead to a diplomatic breakthrough.
In 2023, NBC reported that former U.S. national security officials had held secret talks with russians considered close to the kremlin, some of whom eventually met with Foreign Minister Lavrov.
One source suggested that Track Two talks may have lost much of their relevance as U.S. and russian officials have established formal channels of dialogue in recent weeks.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after making statements about resetting relations with the kremlin during a meeting with russian negotiators in Riyadh, tried to reassure nervous European allies a few hours later that the negotiations did not mean a sharp departure from American policy, as many feared.
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