Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia ended in Geneva on Wednesday with little sign of progress, underscoring how far apart the two sides remain after nearly four years of war. Delegations from both countries met for a second day under U.S. mediation, but the session lasted only about two hours, far shorter than the previous day’s six hour meeting and neither side reported any concrete results, according to Hurriyet Daily News.
Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, described the discussions as “difficult, but business-like,” offering no details. Ukrainian officials were equally guarded. Even before the talks concluded, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of trying to prolong negotiations, saying earlier sessions had been tense and unproductive. He reiterated that Ukraine could not accept any settlement that simply handed victory to Russia or left the country exposed to future attacks.
At the heart of the deadlock lies territory. Russia insists that any peace deal must give it full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and has threatened to seize it by force if negotiations fail. Kyiv rejects the demand, arguing that conceding land would reward aggression and encourage further invasions. Ukraine has instead called for firm international security guarantees as a condition for any settlement.
The human cost of the conflict continues to mount. Hours before the Geneva talks began, Russia launched more than 120 attack drones and a ballistic missile at Ukrainian targets, according to Ukraine’s air force. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, entire cities have been devastated, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians killed, and millions forced from their homes, the gravest war in Europe since World War II.
The United States has pressed both sides to move toward a deal. Former U.S. president Donald Trump said this week that Ukraine should “come to the table, fast,” comments that Kyiv viewed as unfairly directed. Zelensky responded that peace cannot be achieved by conceding defeat.
Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea and large swaths of the east and south, and continues slow advances along the front. With positions entrenched and trust scarce, the Geneva talks closed as they began: cautious, strained, and without breakthrough.
