GENEVA: Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia resumed a second round of peace talks in Geneva on Wednesday, as the United States expressed cautious optimism about efforts to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
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The negotiations represent the latest diplomatic attempt to halt the war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions, and devastated large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine. Despite sustained mediation efforts, Washington has struggled to bridge deep divisions between Moscow and Kyiv, particularly over territorial control.
US envoy Steve Witkoff, representing the administration of Donald Trump, said diplomatic engagement had produced meaningful progress, noting that both sides agreed to brief their leadership and continue negotiations. Sources familiar with the discussions described the six-hour talks as tense, with no immediate breakthrough.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv remained ready to move swiftly toward a “worthy agreement” but questioned Russia’s commitment to genuine peace efforts, accusing Moscow of continuing missile strikes instead of engaging in serious diplomacy.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering widespread destruction and prolonged fighting across the region. Expectations for a major breakthrough in Geneva remain low.
Russia’s delegation is being led by former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky, while Ukraine’s team is headed by national security secretary Rustem Umerov. Ukrainian officials said discussions focused on practical mechanisms and possible pathways toward ending the conflict, with European partners — including France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland — also consulted.
Tensions remained high even as talks began. Ukraine accused Russia of undermining diplomacy by launching dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones in overnight attacks that killed civilians and disrupted power supplies in southern regions. Moscow, in turn, alleged that Ukraine launched more than 150 drones targeting Russian territory and the Crimean peninsula.
Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and areas seized following the 2022 invasion. Moscow is seeking full control of the eastern Donetsk region, a demand Kyiv has firmly rejected, insisting that any agreement must include strong security guarantees to prevent future invasions.
While Russian forces have made gradual territorial gains in recent months, economic pressures are mounting in Moscow as sanctions weigh on growth and declining oil revenues widen the country’s budget deficit.
