US, Russia engage in informal talks on Ukraine amid ongoing conflict, Reuters

Representatives from the United States and Russia have been holding a series of informal talks in Switzerland in recent months, with the war in Ukraine as their primary focus, Reuters has reported. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the talks are seen as an additional channel for communication between the two nations, whose relationship has been strained since the election of US President Donald Trump.

The meetings, reportedly attended by former diplomats and security officials, were not officially sanctioned by either government. The names of the individuals involved have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether the talks were initiated by the respective governments or were independent of official channels. It is also unknown whether Ukrainian representatives participated in the discussions.

Reuters adds that while a small number of Trump’s advisers were aware of these talks, it is unclear whether the president was informed of their progress. The most recent meeting is said to have taken place last week, coinciding with the Munich Security Conference.

This marks the latest in a series of informal discussions between US and Russian representatives regarding the war in Ukraine, which have taken place intermittently since 2023. However, these talks have reportedly yielded little in terms of tangible outcomes.

One source has suggested that the relevance of these informal meetings has diminished following the first official US-Russia talks held in Riyadh, signaling a shift toward more formal diplomatic efforts.