No breakthrough in U.S.-brokered Russia–Ukraine peace talks as fighting rages and ceasefire demands remain far apart

No breakthrough as Russia-Ukraine talks stall

The latest US-brokered negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives over Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine concluded on Wednesday without any visible breakthrough, as both sides acknowledged the talks had been “difficult” ahead of the war’s fourth anniversary next week.

Held in Switzerland, the discussions marked the third round of direct engagement facilitated by Washington. Earlier meetings in Abu Dhabi this year were described by officials as constructive, though they failed to deliver any significant progress.

The Russian delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, an adviser to President Vladimir Putin, who told reporters the two-day discussions in Geneva “were difficult but businesslike.” He added that a further round would take place "in the near future.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy likewise characterised the negotiations as “difficult,” accusing Moscow of “trying to drag out negotiations that could already have reached the final stage.”

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, wrote on social media that Washington’s year-long diplomatic effort had “brought about meaningful progress," though he did not provide details.

Despite the renewed diplomatic push, fighting continues along the roughly 1,250-kilometre (750-mile) front line, with Russian forces carrying out daily strikes on civilian areas across Ukraine.

Hours after the first day of talks ended on Tuesday, Russian drones killed a woman and injured a 6-year-old girl and 18-month-old toddler in the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzhia, officials said.

Overnight, Russia launched one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it’s “too early” to speak about the outcome. Putin has been receiving reports about the talks’ progress, he said.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation in Switzerland, Rustem Umerov, said that officials are trying to bridge their political and military differences.

“Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the political and military tracks,” the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, wrote in English on X. “We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday.”

Zelenskyy said the delegations also were to discuss further exchanges of prisoners of war and the release of civilian prisoners.

He revealed that the Ukrainian and American envoys in Geneva met with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Europe’s participation in the process is “indispensable,” Zelenskyy said.

European leaders, mindful of Putin's wider ambitions, say their own security is at stake in Ukraine and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

Russia and Ukraine appear to still be far apart on their demands for a settlement.

Zelenskyy has offered a ceasefire and a face-to-face meeting with Putin. But Moscow wants a comprehensive agreement before committing to a truce.

Putin’s key goals remain what he declared when Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022: Ukraine must renounce joining NATO, sharply reduce the size of its army and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.

Additionally, Putin wants Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the four regions Moscow has occupied but doesn’t fully control.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine won't surrender land to Russia.

(With AP inputs)