A message from Volodymyr Zelensky on social network X may be behind the sudden end of tripartite talks
The long-awaited meeting between Ukraine, Russia and the United States in Geneva lasted just two hours. The second day of peace negotiations, mediated by Washington, ended abruptly this Wednesday, shortly after it began, and apparently because of a message from Zelensky on social media.
“Yesterday’s meetings [terça-feira] were really difficult, and we can say that Russia is trying to prolong negotiations that could have already reached the final stage”, wrote the Ukrainian president in X this Wednesday morning.
In another publication, the head of state highlighted that Kiev remains focused on concrete results. “We are working together with the team to bring real peace closer. The priority is security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukrainian representatives have clear directives on all aspects of the negotiations. I expect a detailed report after all meetings.”
Before the start of today’s work of the delegations in Geneva, I held a meeting with the Ukrainian team.
Yesterday there were meetings in different formats – both bilateral between Ukraine and the United States and multilateral formats. In particular, there were talks between…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa)
According to Reuters, the message, written minutes before the talks began, did not go down well with the Russian representatives present in Switzerland, who, suddenly, put an end to negotiations with Kiev.
Still, the balance of the two meetings on European soil is positive. On the Russian side, negotiator Vladimir Medinsky classified the session as “tough but professional”, indicating that a new round of talks should take place soon. A Russian source, cited by RBC-Russia on condition of anonymity, also described the first meeting, held on Tuesday.
On the Ukrainian side, Rustem Umerov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, described the meeting as “substantive”. “The discussions were intense and substantive,” he said, quoted by Reuters, adding that “several issues were clarified” and reiterating that “Ukraine’s objective continues to be a just and sustainable peace.”
Meanwhile, another source told The Washington Post that “Russia may want peace, but only on its own terms.”
Delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States during peace talks in Geneva on 17 February. Images from Rustem Umerov’s Social Network X
The conversations took place under the mediation of the United States, in a context in which American President Donald Trump argued that it is up to Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelensky to take initiatives that ensure the success of the process. At the same time, US special envoy Steve Witkoff assured that the trilateral discussions resulted in “significant progress”, also thanking Switzerland for hosting the meetings.
The main point of friction between the two states at war since 2022 remains the issue of territories. Moscow currently controls around a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, and demands full control of Donetsk as part of any understanding, even over areas it has failed to conquer in recent years of war. Kiev, on the other hand, rejects this demand and wants solid security guarantees from Western partners.
The negotiations come as the conflict prepares to enter its fifth year, with active fighting on several fronts and successive diplomatic rounds unable, so far, to produce an agreement. This Wednesday, Ukraine accused Russia of , of which 100 were intercepted, while another 14 hit different areas of Ukraine, the location of which was not disclosed.
