Talks in Switzerland were the third round of US-mediated debate, following meetings in Abu Dhabi earlier this year
The most recent negotiations mediated by the United States between envoys from Moscow and Kiev on Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine ended this Wednesday (18) no signs of advancement and with both sides saying the talks were “difficult”just days away from the fourth anniversary of the war next week.
The talks in Switzerland were the third round of direct talks organized by the US, following meetings in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but also failed to generate much progress.
The head of the Russian delegation, President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Vladimir Medinsky, told reporters that the talks over the past two days in Geneva “were difficult but objective.” He added that another round of talks will be held “in the near future.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also described the discussions as “difficult” and accused Russia of “trying to drag out negotiations that could have already reached the final stage.”
US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on social media that Washington’s effort for peace in Ukraine over the past year has “brought significant progress”, without giving details.
The two armies remain locked in battle on the approximately 1,250-kilometer front line, while Russia daily bombs civilian areas of Ukraine.
Hours after the end of the first day of talks, on Tuesday (17), Russian drones killed a woman and injured a 6-year-old girl and an 18-month-old baby in the city of Zaporizhzhia, in southern Ukraine, according to authorities.
Overnight, Russia launched a ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was “too early” to talk about the result. Putin has been receiving reports on the progress of the talks, he said.
The head of the Ukrainian delegation in Switzerland, Rustem Umerov, said the officers were trying to reconcile their political and military differences.
“Consultations are taking place in working groups across areas within the political and military tracks,” wrote the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, in English on X. “We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday.”
Zelensky said delegations should also discuss further prisoner of war exchanges and the release of civilian prisoners. He revealed that 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”, said the Ukrainian president.
European leaders, mindful of Putin’s broader ambitions, say their own security is at stake in Ukraine and have insisted on being consulted on peace efforts.
Zelensky offered a ceasefire and a face-to-face meeting with Putin. However, Moscow wants a comprehensive agreement before committing to a truce.
Putin’s main goals remain what he declared when Russia invaded its neighbor on February 24, 2022: Ukraine must renounce membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), significantly reduce the size of its army, and protect the Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.
Furthermore, Putin wants Kiev to withdraw its forces from the four regions occupied by Moscow but not fully controlled. Zelensky says Ukraine will not cede land to Russia.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
