GENEVA: Ukrainian and Russian negotiators concluded two days of US-mediated talks in Geneva on Wednesday, failing to signal any progress toward ending Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II. The discussions, significantly shorter than previous sessions, offered no elaboration on specifics or agreements, with both sides describing the talks as "difficult." The United States has been actively engaged in brokering a compromise, particularly concerning territory, a key sticking point. Russia seeks full control of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, a demand Kyiv rejects, insisting on security guarantees to prevent future invasions. Diplomatic efforts have been hampered for months by this territorial dispute.
Ukrainian rescuers work in a damaged private house at the site of a Russian attack in the Kyrykivka community of the Okhtyrka district Sumy region on Feb 17, 2026. (Photo: AFP/State Emergency Service of Ukraine)
The conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has led to widespread destruction, significant casualties, and millions displaced. Hopes for a breakthrough in the Geneva talks were low, with Russia reinstating nationalist hawk Vladimir Medinsky as its lead negotiator, while Ukraine's side is led by national security secretary Rustem Umerov. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concerns that Russia was seeking to "drag out" negotiations, questioning Moscow's seriousness about peace. He indicated readiness to move quickly toward a deal but stressed that lasting peace requires more than simply conceding to Moscow's demands. Russia currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea and areas taken by separatists prior to 2022. Despite ongoing Russian territorial advances along the front line, Moscow faces mounting economic challenges, including stagnating growth and a widening budget deficit.