The latest US-brokered talks between Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s team and Vladimir Putin’s representatives ended without a major breakthrough in Geneva on Wednesday (February 18th) as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary next week.
The Swiss meeting marked the third round of direct talks hosted by the United States this year, following earlier discussions in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but inconclusive. Expectations of significant progress in Geneva were low.
“The negotiations were not easy”
“The negotiations were not easy,” Zelenskyy said after the talks ended and spoke briefly with his negotiating team by phone from Kyiv.
He accused Moscow of stopping and continuing the military campaign.
“An effort to drag out negotiations,” Zelenskyy said of Russia’s approach.
Despite deep political divisions, Zelenskyy said there has been some movement in discussions related to the military, particularly around the mechanics of a potential ceasefire.
On the Russian side, the head of the delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, described the talks as “difficult but substantive.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov struck a cautious tone, saying it was “too early” to assess the results. He added that Putin was being updated on progress in Geneva.
Both sides have confirmed that another round of talks is planned.
The US will help monitor any ceasefire
Zelenskyy characterized the military discussions as “constructive” and noted that both sides were exploring how to oversee a possible ceasefire.
“The monitoring will certainly be done with the participation of the American side,” he said in a voice message shared with reporters.
A spokesman for US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, said Washington’s diplomatic efforts had “produced meaningful progress”, although he did not give details.
Any ceasefire monitoring mechanism involving the United States would mean a significant role for Washington in promoting potential agreements on the ground.
The fight continues
Even as the talks developed, fighting continued along the roughly 1,250-kilometer front line.
Hours after the first day of negotiations, Russian drone strikes killed a woman and injured two children – a six-year-old girl and an 18-month-old toddler – in the southern city of Zaporizhia.
The Ukrainian Air Force announced overnight that Russia fired one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones into Ukrainian territory.
The ongoing attacks underscore the gap between diplomatic discussions and the reality on the battlefield.
Europe’s role is ‘indispensable’
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian and American negotiators met with representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland during the Geneva talks.
“Europe’s participation in the process is indispensable,” he said.
European leaders have insisted on joining the peace effort, arguing that the outcome of the war has direct implications for continental security and for Russia’s wider ambitions.
Division over territory and NATO
Substantial disagreements persist over key political issues, particularly the status of eastern Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces.
Putin maintained the main objectives he outlined when launching the invasion on February 24, 2022:
-Ukraine must give up its ambitions to join NATO
-The Ukrainian army must be significantly reduced
-Russian language and culture must be protected
-Kyiv must withdraw from four eastern regions that Moscow claims but does not fully control
However, Zelenskyi ruled out territorial concessions.
“Ukraine will not hand over land to Russia,” he repeatedly declared, offering a cease-fire and proposing a personal meeting with Putin.
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