Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva concluded abruptly after just two hours, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressing frustration over Russia’s tactics. Zelenskiy described the discussions as “difficult” and accused the Russian delegation of intentionally delaying progress towards a resolution of the ongoing conflict that has persisted since 2022.
The negotiations were mediated by the United States and took place in Switzerland, coinciding with remarks from US President Donald Trump, who suggested that Ukraine needed to take the initiative for the talks to succeed. Following the talks, Zelenskiy posted on social media platform X, stating, “Yesterday’s meetings were indeed difficult, and we can state that Russia is trying to drag out negotiations that could already have reached the final stage.”
The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported the conclusion of the talks shortly after Zelenskiy’s comments. Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky informed reporters that further negotiations would occur soon, although he did not specify a date. A Ukrainian official confirmed that the discussions lasted approximately two hours.
In a recent interview with Axios, Zelenskiy criticized Trump’s public calls for Ukraine to make concessions, deeming them “not fair.” He emphasized that any proposal requiring Ukraine to cede territory not occupied by Russia in the eastern Donbas region would likely be rejected by the Ukrainian populace if subjected to a referendum. “I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision,” Zelenskiy remarked during the interview.
The peace talks came just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in significant loss of life, displacement of millions, and widespread destruction across the country. Reports indicate that hundreds of thousands have been killed, and many Ukrainian cities and towns have suffered extensive damage due to the conflict. Russia continues to deny claims of deliberately targeting civilians.
Ukrainian delegation head Rustem Umerov stated that discussions had focused on “practical issues and the mechanics of possible decisions.” However, sources from Russian news agencies characterized the negotiations as “very tense,” indicating that the talks had initially lasted six hours in various formats before being cut short.
Before the Geneva meeting, Umerov had tempered expectations regarding significant advancements, indicating that the Ukrainian delegation was approaching the discussions without “excessive expectations.”
This latest round of talks follows two previous US-brokered sessions in Abu Dhabi, which also ended without major breakthroughs as both sides remained far apart on critical issues, particularly concerning territorial control in eastern Ukraine. Currently, Russia occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean Peninsula and parts of the Donbas region, territories seized prior to the 2022 invasion. Recent airstrikes by Russia on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have left many residents without heating and power during the harsh winter months.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely for any signs of progress in negotiations to end the ongoing conflict.
