US-mediated peace talks: Russia and Ukraine make limited progress, fail to agree on territory

Geneva: Ukraine and Russia have made some progress at US-mediated negotiations in Geneva, but failed to resolve disputes over key territorial issues, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday.

The talks aim to end the nearly four-year war that has killed tens of thousands and devastated eastern and southern Ukraine, yet Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart over who controls which areas in a post-war settlement.

“We can see that some groundwork has been done, but for now the positions differ, because the negotiations were not easy,” Zelensky told journalists, including AFP, after the discussions.

Ceasefire talks advance, sensitive issues unresolved

The two sides reached agreement on almost all aspects of a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, which will involve the United States. However, disputes over occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and the future of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remain unresolved.

Russia is pressing for full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and has threatened military action if Kyiv refuses to concede. Ukraine, citing both political and military risks, has rejected this demand, insisting on security guarantees to prevent future Russian invasions.

The head of Russia’s delegation described the talks as “difficult, but business-like,” signalling that further negotiations are planned.

Ongoing conflict, international involvement

The Geneva discussions were led by Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky and Ukrainian national security secretary Rustem Umerov. Umerov described the talks as “intensive and substantive” and said the next step would be to reach a consensus for consideration by the presidents.

Zelensky highlighted the role of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, stating that European involvement is “indispensable” for any lasting deal. Meanwhile, Russian forces continued advancing in southern Zaporizhzhia region and northern Sumy region, while Ukrainian authorities reported at least one person wounded in drone and artillery attacks.

Economic pressures are mounting for Russia, with stagnant growth, rising budget deficits, and oil revenues dropping to a five-year low.

The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has left millions displaced and caused widespread destruction across Ukraine.