Russia, Ukraine, and the United States concluded trilateral peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The discussions, spanning Tuesday and Wednesday, reportedly yielded no substantial breakthroughs.
Both Russian and Ukrainian representatives described the negotiations as "difficult," citing significant divergence on critical issues such as territorial control and the terms of a potential ceasefire.
Despite the challenging nature of the talks, Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky characterized them as "businesslike" and indicated that further meetings are scheduled "soon." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed the sentiment that negotiations were "not easy" due to opposing positions.
Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov offered a slightly more optimistic outlook, describing the discussions as "substantive and intensive." While acknowledging progress, he stressed that details would remain undisclosed "at this stage," emphasizing the complex and time-consuming nature of the alignment required among all parties.
President Zelensky also voiced frustration, accusing Russia of attempting to prolong negotiations that he believed could have reached a conclusion. The lack of resolution comes four years after Russia's full-scale invasion, with Moscow continuing to press for control over Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, a demand Kyiv steadfastly rejects. The status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, currently under Russian control, also remains a significant point of contention.