Representatives of Ukraine and Russia convene in Geneva for two days of U.S.-facilitated talks, with the Kremlin saying land - the principal obstacle to any accord - is expected to be the chief subject of discussion.
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged both Moscow and Kyiv to conclude an agreement that would end what has become Europe’s largest conflict since 1945. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has voiced concerns that his country is under significant pressure to make concessions.
Moscow is demanding that Ukraine hand over the remaining 20% of the Donetsk region that Russian forces have not yet captured - a condition Kyiv rejects. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the negotiators intend to cover a wider array of topics than in previous sessions, noting that "the main issues concern both the territories and everything else related to the demands we have put forward."
The choice of Geneva as the venue follows two earlier rounds of talks hosted in Abu Dhabi. Both sides described those meetings as constructive but they did not produce any major breakthroughs.
The Geneva meeting occurs just days before the fourth anniversary, on February 24, of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities, forced millions from their homes, and inflicted widespread destruction on numerous cities, towns and villages across Ukraine.
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including the annexed Crimean peninsula and portions of the Donbas region that Moscow took control of prior to the 2022 escalation. Recent Russian air strikes targeting energy infrastructure have deprived hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians of heating and electricity during a severe winter.
Expectations for a dramatic breakthrough in Geneva are muted. The Kremlin said Russia’s delegation would be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian negotiators’ past complaints that Medinsky lectured them on history - which they view as a justification for Russia’s actions - have further tempered hopes for major progress.
Also participating from the Russian side will be military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. Separately, President Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev will join a working group focused on economic questions.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, President Zelenskiy said he hoped the Geneva discussions would be "serious, substantive... but honestly sometimes it feels like the sides are talking about completely different things."
Kyiv’s delegation is being led by Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defence council, alongside Kyrylo Budanov, the president’s chief of staff. Senior presidential aide Serhiy Kyslytsya will also be present. Prior to departure for Geneva, Umerov reiterated Ukraine’s objective of achieving "a sustainable and lasting peace."
While territory is the primary sticking point, negotiators also remain deeply divided on other major questions. These include which authority should control the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and whether Western troops might have a role in a postwar Ukrainian security arrangement.
The United States will be represented at the talks by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, according to a source. The two U.S. envoys are also scheduled to take part in separate discussions in Geneva this week with Iran.
Summary
A U.S.-mediated round of talks in Geneva brings Russian and Ukrainian delegations together to focus primarily on territorial questions, particularly Moscow’s demand that Kyiv cede the remaining 20% of Donetsk it has not captured. The talks, held days before the fourth anniversary of the 2022 full-scale invasion, follow two earlier rounds in Abu Dhabi that produced limited progress. Key outstanding issues include control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the potential presence of Western troops in a postwar arrangement. Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine and recent strikes on energy infrastructure have left hundreds of thousands without heat and power during winter.
Key points
- Territory is at the center of the negotiations - Russia demands the remaining 20% of Donetsk that Moscow has not taken, a demand Ukraine rejects.
- Delegations include senior figures: Russia’s team led by Vladimir Medinsky with intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov involved; Ukraine’s delegation led by Rustem Umerov and Kyrylo Budanov, with Serhiy Kyslytsya also present.
- Energy and security sectors are directly affected - strikes on energy infrastructure have caused widespread outages, and disagreements over control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the potential role of Western troops remain unresolved.
Risks and uncertainties
- Low prospects for immediate breakthrough - past meetings in Abu Dhabi were deemed constructive but failed to produce major agreements, and expectations in Geneva are subdued.
- Humanitarian and infrastructure risk - continued strikes on energy facilities threaten winter heating and power supplies for hundreds of thousands, affecting civilian welfare and energy markets.
- Security ambiguity - unresolved disputes over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the question of Western troop involvement leave post-conflict security arrangements uncertain, with implications for regional defense planning.