Geneva Hosts Fresh Russia-Ukraine Talks

Representatives from Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday for a new round of US-brokered peace negotiations, just days before the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

The discussions mark the third round of talks mediated by the United States, after earlier meetings were held in Abu Dhabi. Washington has reportedly set a June deadline to push for a settlement, though expectations for a breakthrough remain limited as both sides continue to stand by their core demands.

Ukraine’s delegation is being led by Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. Other members include senior presidential aide Serhiy Kyslytsya and Kyrylo Budanov, a key official in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration.

Russia’s team is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin. The delegation also includes senior intelligence and foreign ministry officials, along with Kirill Dmitriev, who is involved in a parallel economic working group.

Territory remains the main obstacle. Moscow is pressing Kyiv to cede the remaining portion of the eastern Donetsk region that Russian forces have not yet captured, a demand Ukraine has firmly rejected. Other contentious issues include control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the potential deployment of Western troops in a postwar scenario.

On the battlefield, fighting continues along a roughly 1,250-kilometre front line. Russia has intensified aerial strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread winter power outages. Kyiv, meanwhile, has expanded its drone capabilities to target sites deep inside Russian territory.

Despite sustained diplomatic efforts over the past year, Europe’s largest conflict since 1945 continues to claim lives and displace millions.