GENEVA: A second round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, aimed at bringing an end to the prolonged and devastating conflict, is resuming today in Geneva today (Wednesday).
The talks are part of renewed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate a war that has now entered its fourth year.
Officials from the United States have signaled cautious optimism, suggesting that some procedural progress has been made in getting both sides back to the negotiating table.
However, they have tempered expectations, emphasizing that a comprehensive breakthrough or immediate ceasefire agreement is unlikely at this stage.
According to AFP, the Geneva discussions represent the latest high-level diplomatic attempt to halt a war that has resulted in staggering human and material losses.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or wounded, millions have been displaced from their homes, and vast swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine have suffered extensive destruction of infrastructure, housing, and critical services.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff described the resumption of direct talks as a meaningful step forward. In a statement posted on social media, he noted that bringing both parties into the same room again was itself an achievement after months of heightened military escalation.
Witkoff added that representatives from both sides had agreed to brief their respective national leaders and maintain the diplomatic channel in the days ahead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated Kyiv’s willingness to pursue what he called a “dignified and just” peace agreement. He stressed that Ukraine remains open to serious negotiations but expressed skepticism regarding Moscow’s true intentions.
Zelenskyy stated that if Russia is genuinely committed to ending the conflict, it must demonstrate that commitment by prioritizing diplomacy over continued missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned observers against expecting dramatic results from the initial phase of the talks. He indicated that negotiations of this complexity require time and careful deliberation, particularly given the deep divisions between the two sides on territorial and security issues.
Tensions have remained high in the lead-up to the Geneva meeting. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of launching missile and drone attacks shortly before the talks commenced, while Moscow countered with allegations that Ukrainian forces had carried out drone strikes targeting Russian territory. These mutual accusations underscore the fragile environment in which the negotiations are taking place.
Since annexing Crimea in 2014, Russia has consolidated control over approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Moscow is currently pressing for full control of the eastern Donetsk region — a demand that Kyiv has firmly rejected as incompatible with Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukrainian officials maintain that any viable peace agreement must include robust and enforceable security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
Political analysts and regional experts caution that while the resumption of talks is diplomatically significant, the entrenched positions of both Moscow and Kyiv present formidable obstacles.
The path toward a comprehensive settlement remains uncertain, and the possibility of incremental confidence-building measures may be more realistic in the near term than an immediate, sweeping peace accord.
