Ukrainian officials have departed for Geneva, Switzerland, for another round of high-stakes negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia. “On the way to Geneva. The next round of negotiations is ahead.
Along the way, we will reflect on the lessons of our history with our colleagues and seek the right conclusions,” wrote Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s Chief of Staff, on his Telegram channel Monday, posting a photo of himself alongside two delegation members in front of a train.
The Geneva talks follow two rounds of U.S.-brokered negotiations held in the United Arab Emirates in January and early February.
The last round marked the first public, direct discussions between Moscow and Kyiv over a plan proposed by the Trump administration to resolve the conflict that erupted when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Both sides described the previous talks as constructive but made no breakthrough.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism ahead of Geneva. “I hope these trilateral talks will be serious, substantive, and helpful for all of us,” he said. “But honestly, it sometimes feels like the sides are talking about completely different things.
The Americans often return to concessions—but too often, these concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia.”
The future of Ukraine’s eastern region remains one of the most contentious issues. Russia demands that Kyiv withdraw its troops from the Donbas, including heavily fortified cities atop vast natural resources, and seeks international recognition of territories it has unilaterally annexed.
Kyiv insists that any agreement should freeze the conflict along the current front lines, rejecting one-sided withdrawals, and is pressing for robust security guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks.
Meanwhile, reports from Moscow suggest public skepticism about the talks. Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova noted that “the general public does not take this next round very seriously. The first two rounds left many questions unanswered, particularly on territorial issues and ceasefire enforcement.”
As diplomatic efforts continue, both sides are escalating military activity. Kyiv reported a large-scale drone strike on energy infrastructure in western Russia on Sunday.
In response, Alexander Bogomaz, governor of Russia’s Bryansk region, said Russian forces intercepted and destroyed over 220 drones during a 12-hour assault, leaving some residents temporarily without heating.
On the offensive front, Russian army chief General Valery Gerasimov stated that Russian forces had captured 12 settlements in eastern Ukraine this month, covering roughly 200 square kilometers (77 square miles). “The military operation continues. The offensive is under way in all directions,” Gerasimov said during a visit to troops on the front lines.
As Kyiv and Moscow prepare for the next round of talks in Geneva, the world watches whether diplomacy can outpace the intensifying conflict on the ground.
About the Author
