U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia had achieved “meaningful progress” toward ending the conflict. This assertion came as both delegations prepared for the second day of discussions in Geneva on Wednesday.
Witkoff shared his assessment on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, writing, “President Trump’s success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress, and we are proud to work under his leadership to stop the killing in this terrible conflict.”
Despite this optimism, widespread expectations for a significant breakthrough remain subdued. The Kremlin has consistently maintained its maximalist stance, demanding territorial concessions from Ukraine.
Concerns have arisen regarding the tenor of the negotiations, with Donald Trump recently suggesting that the onus is on Ukraine to ensure the success of talks held in Switzerland, without directly referencing Russia’s role or demands.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has frequently articulated that his nation is being asked to make disproportionate concessions when compared to Russia’s demands. Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including substantial portions of the eastern Donbas region. The Russian government has indicated a desire for Ukraine to cede the remainder of this region, a proposal Ukraine has rejected.
Ukraine has emphasized that substantial security guarantees from Western allies, notably the United States, are a prerequisite for reaching any settlement with Russia.
Speaking to the Axios news outlet on Tuesday, Zelensky expressed that it was “not fair” for Trump to consistently call on Ukraine to unilaterally broker a deal. He further stated that lasting peace would be unattainable if “victory” were simply conceded to Russia.
“I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision,” Zelensky remarked, indicating his uncertainty about Trump’s underlying intentions.
In a statement released on social media Tuesday evening, top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov reported that the initial day of discussions had concentrated on “practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions.”
Following this, in his nightly video address, Zelensky conveyed Ukraine’s readiness to suspend offensive operations, a proposal reportedly put forth by the U.S. to both Kyiv and Moscow.
“We don’t need war,” he stated, underscoring that Ukrainians were engaged in “defending our state, our independence.”
“We are also ready to quickly move towards a worthy agreement to end the war. The question is only for the Russians: What do they want?” Zelensky posed, placing the onus on the Russian side to define their objectives.
These ongoing discussions represent the third round of trilateral negotiations aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
According to Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency, an unnamed source indicated that Tuesday’s negotiations, which spanned six hours, were characterized by tension and occurred across various bilateral and trilateral formats.
The talks are being facilitated by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who serves as advisor and former son-in-law to the U.S. President.
Representing the Russian Federation, President Vladimir Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky is leading the negotiating team.
The timing of these negotiations is significant, occurring just one week prior to the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In separate developments, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 43 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and shot down over several Russian regions and Crimea during the night leading into Wednesday.
The preceding night, Russia launched a large-scale, combined aerial assault against Ukraine. This attack involved approximately 400 drones and nearly 30 missiles, impacting 12 different regions. Ukrainian officials confirmed that at least three fatalities resulted from this strike.