American and Russian officials have discussed the Ukraine conflict through a Swiss intermediary

U.S. and Russian representatives have engaged in discreet meetings in Switzerland over the past few months to discuss the Ukraine conflict, with the most recent gathering occurring last week, according to three informed sources. These discussions are characterized as a side channel, with some interactions taking place during the transition period following President Donald Trump’s election victory on November 5.

The participants possess diplomatic and security expertise, but they are not official government representatives, and it remains unclear whether any were dispatched by their respective governments, as noted by two of the sources. The identities of the attendees have not been disclosed.

One source with direct knowledge indicated that a small number of Trump’s advisers are aware of these meetings. Many aspects of the discussions are still uncertain, including the specific agendas, the presence of Ukrainian representatives, and the timeline of when these meetings commenced. However, these previously unreported gatherings underscore the ongoing U.S. and Russian initiatives to seek resolutions to the Ukraine war, despite a significant reduction in official communications under former President Joe Biden.

Since taking office just a month ago, Trump has notably shifted the U.S. stance on the three-year-old Ukraine crisis, directly engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin and advocating for a swift resolution to the conflict.

On Tuesday, senior U.S. officials convened with Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. One source referred to the discussions in Switzerland as Track Two dialogues, a term used in diplomacy to describe unofficial conversations aimed at enhancing communication and exploring ideas rather than formulating specific proposals.

The White House National Security Council, the Ukrainian government, and the Russian foreign ministry did not provide comments when approached. Two sources mentioned that at least one meeting occurred in Geneva during last week’s Munich Security Conference, which brought together international political leaders and security officials in Germany.

Last year, Reuters covered separate Track Two discussions that took place in 2023 and early 2024, during which Putin indicated a potential openness to a ceasefire in Ukraine. However, these discussions ultimately did not yield any results.

Traditionally, Track Two dialogues have been instrumental in fostering communication between parties with significant distrust, aiming to pave the way for diplomatic advancements. In 2023, NBC reported that former U.S. national security officials engaged in clandestine discussions with individuals believed to have close ties to the Kremlin, with some eventually meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov.

One source indicated that the significance of Track Two talks may have diminished, as U.S. and Russian officials have recently established formal communication channels.