Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are to resume a second round of critical peace talks in Geneva on Wednesday, aiming to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. The talks come as the United States signals progress in its diplomatic efforts.
The United States continues pushing for an end to the four-year war despite failing to broker a territorial compromise. However, US envoy Steve Witkoff stated that President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts made significant strides during the recent Washington sessions.
“President Trump’s success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress,” Witkoff wrote on X. Furthermore, he noted that both parties agreed to update their respective leaders while working toward a final deal.
The latest negotiations reportedly lasted six hours and remained very tense, according to sources close to the Russian delegation. President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed readiness “to move quickly towards a worthy agreement,” yet he questioned Russia’s sincerity regarding peace.
“What do they want?” Zelensky asked, accusing Moscow of prioritizing missile strikes over real diplomacy during these sensitive talks. Consequently, the Kremlin reinstated nationalist hawk Vladimir Medinsky as its lead negotiator, while Rustem Umerov continues leading the Ukrainian side.
Obstacles to a Final Deal
Zelenskyy recently told Axios that it was “not fair” for Trump to keep calling on Ukraine to broker deals. He emphasized that lasting peace remains impossible if the international community simply hands a “victory” to the Russian Federation.
Despite these diplomatic meetings, Russia launched nearly 30 missiles and hundreds of drones against Ukrainian territory just before the talks. Ukraine refuses to cede the eastern Donetsk region without receiving firm security guarantees to deter any future Russian invasions.
Both nations face significant internal pressures as the war continues to drain resources and decimate vital infrastructure across the region. Russia’s oil revenues have dropped to a five-year low, while Ukraine struggles with a ballooning budget deficit and stagnating growth. Therefore, the outcome of the Geneva talks remains crucial for the economic and political survival of both warring parties.
