No Major Breakthrough in US-Mediated Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Geneva
Despite high-stakes and intense negotiations in Geneva, no major breakthrough was achieved in the trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. The talks, aimed at resolving the conflict that erupted when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, ended on Wednesday with no resolution on the key contentious points. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to drag out
the process, while US President Donald Trump continued to exert pressure on Kyiv.
Context and Background
The Geneva discussions followed two previous rounds of talks held in the United Arab Emirates, with expectations for a breakthrough remaining low. The war, set to enter its fifth year next week, has seen a recent escalation with Russia launching 400 drones and 29 missiles at Ukraine hours before the peace talks commenced.
Zelenskyy expressed frustration, calling on allies to respond to all these strikes against life
and stating that the US was putting undue pressure on Ukraine to end the war. In contrast, Trump urged Ukraine to come to the table, fast
, reinforcing his position as a peacemaker in the conflict.
Key Developments
The peace talks, which began on Tuesday, were described as tense
by Russian media outlets. Both sides described previous US-mediated negotiations as productive, but they failed to address critical points like territory and security guarantees. Issues related to the exchange of prisoners of war and the release of civilians were also on the agenda.
However, there was no agreement reached on the fate of occupied territory in Ukraine's east or the future status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Despite these difficulties, both parties agreed to disagree, indicating that negotiations would continue despite the impasse.
Reactions and Implications
The ongoing conflict and unsuccessful talks are raising concerns over Europe's ability to resist or coexist with an aggressive Russia under Putin's regime. The situation is also shedding light on the commercial interests that are driving the United States' talks with Russia, as suggested by the Kyiv Independent.
There has been a call for discussions to focus more on Ukraine's interests, rather than on the interests of Trump or Putin. A Japanese professor suggested that treating Ukraine only as an object, rather than a subject whose voice is heard, is fundamentally mistaken.
Conclusion
As the peace talks in Geneva concluded without a major breakthrough, both sides signaled that the discussions had been tricky. The meeting on Wednesday lasted only two hours, much shorter than the six hours of meetings on Tuesday. Despite the lack of progress, Ukraine is ready for the next round of negotiations, with potential locations being either Miami or Abu Dhabi. However, the Russian side has yet to confirm its participation. The war continues, and the world watches as attempts to broker peace remain unsuccessful.