Representatives of Ukraine and Russia are set to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday and Wednesday for a new round of US-brokered peace talks, days ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Soldiers fire a cannon at a Russian army position near Kharkiv, Ukraine. (AP)Expectations of any significant progress remain low, with both sides holding firm to their core demands, the Associated Press reported.
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Where and when are the discussions taking place?The latest round is being held in Geneva, Switzerland after the previous two rounds were held in Abu Dhabi.The Geneva meeting marked the third round of US-brokered talks.The talks come ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s 2022 attack.The US has set a June deadline to reach a deal.The venue changed to the Swiss lakeside city after Abu Dhabi hosted two rounds of talks that both sides described as constructive but failed to reach any major breakthroughs.Who is participating?The Ukrainian delegation includes:The team is headed by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.Kirill Budanov, Chief of Staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky.Senior Presidential Assistant Serhii Kislyit.The Russian delegation includes:Vladimir Medinsky, an aide of President Vladimir Putin, leads the team in Moscow.Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s military intelligence agency.Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special envoy, is participating in a separate economic working group.US Representation:The Trump administration is represented by Ambassadors Steve Wittkoff and Jared Kushner.Both the Russian and Ukrainian delegations are expected to report to their respective leaders before a possible compromise is accepted.
What are the issues?The central sticking point is territory. Russia is demanding that Ukraine give up the remaining 20% of eastern Donetsk that Moscow has failed to capture, which Kiev has refused to do, Reuters reported.
Kyiv has refused to agree to regional concessions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the talks would cover “a wide range of issues”, particularly related to the region and Russia’s claims.
Other unresolved issues include:Russia and Ukraine are also far apart over who should control the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and the possible role of Western troops in post-war Ukraine.
Why low expectations?Expectations of significant progress are low. Ukrainian negotiators have previously accused Medinsky of lecturing on history as justification for attacks.
Ukrainian defenders are locked in battle with Russia’s larger army along a nearly 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) front line.
Russia has repeatedly launched aerial barrages targeting energy infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without electricity during the winter due to recent strikes.
Zelensky said intelligence reports indicated preparations for a more massive attack on fuel targets were underway.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has developed drones capable of striking deep into Russian territory, including oil refineries and weapons depots.
Despite a year of US peace efforts, the conflict, Europe’s largest since 1945, continues, killing thousands and displacing millions.
(with input from agencies)
