GENEVA — Diplomatic representatives from Russia and Ukraine wrapped up their latest round of American-facilitated negotiations Wednesday without achieving a major breakthrough, with both delegations characterizing the discussions as challenging as the war nears its fourth anniversary.
The Swiss meetings marked the third series of direct discussions coordinated by the United States, following earlier sessions this year in Abu Dhabi that officials called productive despite yielding limited concrete results. Going into the Geneva talks, anticipation for substantial advancement remained modest.
“The negotiations were not easy,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated following the conclusion of talks, speaking by telephone from Kyiv with his diplomatic team.
Zelenskyy previously charged Russia with “trying to drag out negotiations” while continuing its military campaign — a claim he and European officials have consistently voiced before.
Nevertheless, Zelenskyy indicated some advancement occurred regarding military matters, though significant political gaps persist, particularly concerning the fate of eastern Ukrainian territory currently under Russian military control that President Vladimir Putin seeks to retain.
Vladimir Medinsky, who leads Russia’s delegation and serves as a Putin advisor, informed journalists that the two-day Geneva discussions “were difficult but businesslike.”
Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov advised reporters it remains “too early” to assess the talks’ results. Putin has been receiving updates about the Geneva proceedings, Peskov noted.
Representatives from both nations confirmed plans for additional negotiating sessions.
Regarding military aspects, Zelenskyy characterized those conversations as “constructive,” noting that both countries’ armed forces examined potential monitoring mechanisms for any future ceasefire agreement.
“Monitoring will definitely be carried out with participation of the American side,” he stated in an audio message distributed through a WhatsApp media group.
Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, posted on social media that Washington’s diplomatic efforts toward Ukrainian peace over recent months have “brought about meaningful progress,” though he provided no additional details.
Military forces from both nations continue engaging along the approximately 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) battle zone, while Russia maintains daily bombardments of Ukrainian civilian locations.
Following Tuesday’s initial negotiating session, Russian drone attacks killed one woman and wounded both a 6-year-old girl and an 18-month-old child in Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian city, according to local authorities.
During the night, Russia deployed one ballistic missile and 126 extended-range drones against Ukraine, Ukrainian air force officials reported.
Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian and American negotiators in Geneva conducted meetings with officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
European involvement in diplomatic efforts remains “indispensable,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
European officials, recognizing Putin’s broader territorial ambitions, maintain their security depends on Ukraine’s outcome and have demanded inclusion in peace initiatives.
Russia and Ukraine continue displaying substantial disagreement over settlement conditions.
While Zelenskyy has proposed a ceasefire arrangement and direct discussions with Putin, Moscow demands a complete agreement prior to any truce commitment.
Putin maintains the objectives he announced when Russia began its invasion on Feb. 24, 2022: Ukraine must abandon NATO membership aspirations, significantly reduce military forces, and safeguard Russian language and cultural interests to maintain the country within Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Putin also demands Ukrainian military withdrawal from four eastern regions Moscow occupies but doesn’t completely control.
Zelenskyy maintains Ukraine will not cede territory to Russia.
