Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately prolonging peace negotiations as a second day of U.S.-brokered talks concluded in Geneva on Wednesday, even as fighting continues across the country. Zelenskyy’s statement, delivered via X, alleges a Russian strategy to stall for time while maintaining its military offensive.
According to Zelenskyy, the discussions, which included representatives from the United States and Russia, were “difficult” but yielded an agreement to hold further talks. However, he indicated significant disagreements remain, particularly regarding the status of occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian control. “We can see that progress has been made but, for now, positions differ since the negotiations were difficult,” he said in a WhatsApp chat, as reported by The National News.
The U.S. Is currently brokering a third round of talks, though expectations for a breakthrough remain low, especially as Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches its fifth year. The core obstacles to a resolution center on Russia’s insistence on internationally recognized ownership of occupied territory in eastern Ukraine and Kyiv’s demand for security guarantees from Western partners, most notably the United States, following any potential ceasefire. Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian land, gains that have reportedly come at the cost of over a million Russian casualties, yet President Putin has refused to concede territory as part of any peace agreement.
Zelenskyy has consistently rejected ceding territory, stating on social media Monday that doing so would be a “big mistake to allow the aggressor to take something.” This position is supported by several European leaders and NATO, though the Trump administration has, at times, reportedly urged Ukraine to consider territorial concessions to achieve a peace deal. The current round of negotiations, taking place in Geneva, follows earlier talks held in the United Arab Emirates since January, with U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, present at all three rounds. Witkoff stated on Wednesday that “meaningful progress” had been made during the previous day’s discussions, with both sides agreeing to continue working towards a deal, according to MSN.
The talks are unfolding against a backdrop of continued conflict. Ukraine, first invaded by Russia in 2014, seeks firm commitments from Washington and Europe to prevent future Russian aggression, even as the current war shows no signs of abating. The situation is further complicated by reports of undue pressure from former President Trump, as Zelenskyy has indicated, though details of that pressure remain undisclosed. The outcome of the negotiations, and the future security landscape of Ukraine, remain uncertain as further discussions are planned.
