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Geneva – U.S.-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia concluded Wednesday with limited progress, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a failure to reach a compromise on territorial issues despite agreement on ceasefire monitoring mechanisms. The discussions, held in Geneva, underscored the deep divisions remaining nearly four years into the conflict, with Russia demanding control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and Kyiv insisting on security guarantees to prevent future invasion.
“People can see that some groundwork has been done, but for now the positions differ, given that the negotiations were not easy,” Zelenskyy told journalists following the talks. He confirmed that the two sides had “almost all issues” resolved regarding a ceasefire monitoring mechanism involving the United States, but critical questions surrounding occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and the status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remained unresolved.
The head of the Russian delegation described the discussions as “difficult, but business-like,” signaling a continuation of negotiations in the future. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a conflict that has caused widespread destruction and displacement.
The Geneva talks saw the return of Vladimir Medinsky, a nationalist hawk and former culture minister, as Russia’s lead negotiator. Ukraine was represented by national security secretary Rustem Umerov, who characterized the discussions as “intensive and substantive” and stated the next step would be to seek consensus for presidential consideration.
The talks unfolded against a backdrop of escalating pressure on Ukraine to concede territory. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Kyiv to develop a deal on Monday, stating they “better arrive to the table, fast.” Zelenskyy responded on Tuesday, telling Axios that it was “not fair” that Ukraine faced greater pressure than Russia, and warned that a lasting peace could not be achieved by simply handing victory to Moscow. “I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision,” Zelenskyy said.
Russia currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, seized in 2014, and areas controlled by Moscow-backed separatists prior to the 2022 invasion. Ukraine maintains that ceding further territory would reward aggression and increase the risk of future attacks.
Recent overnight and late Tuesday attacks by Russian drones and artillery wounded at least one person and damaged buildings in Ukrainian regions, according to local authorities. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of European involvement, noting that officials from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy were also in Geneva for discussions, as European participation was “indispensable” for a sustainable agreement.
While diplomatic efforts continue, Russia has been making incremental territorial gains along the front lines, claiming control of villages in the Zaporizhzhia and Sumy regions on Wednesday. Still, Russia’s economy is facing increasing challenges, with stagnant growth, a widening budget deficit, and a decline in oil revenues to a five-year low, impacted by international sanctions.
