Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the latest round of US-brokered peace negotiations with Russia in Geneva produced only limited progress, with major political disagreements and key decisions still unresolved despite continued diplomatic engagement. Delivering a cautious assessment after the talks, Zelenskyy acknowledged that discussions had moved forward on certain military matters but stressed that the outcomes fell short of what Ukraine considers meaningful progress toward ending the war.
In a video message, Zelenskyy stated that while negotiations were conducted seriously and included substantive exchanges between military representatives, the overall results were not sufficient. According to him, the most sensitive issues — including possible political compromises and arrangements for a direct meeting between national leaders — remain largely unsettled and require further negotiation.
The Geneva meetings, held in Switzerland with mediation from the United States, marked the third direct negotiating round between Kyiv and Moscow this year. Expectations going into the talks were already modest, and Zelenskyy’s remarks reflected the continuing gap between the two sides on core questions related to a potential settlement.
Ukraine is now pushing for another round of negotiations before the end of February, hoping continued dialogue may help narrow differences. However, the prospects for rapid progress remain uncertain, particularly as both sides maintain firm positions on territorial and security issues. Russia has continued to demand that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions, scale down its military capabilities and withdraw from regions Moscow claims to have annexed, while Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out any territorial concessions.
The diplomatic efforts unfolded against an active battlefield backdrop, underscoring the fragile nature of negotiations. Shortly after the talks began, Russian drone strikes hit the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing a civilian and injuring two children. Ukrainian authorities also reported overnight attacks involving a ballistic missile and more than a hundred long-range drones, highlighting how hostilities continue even as dialogue proceeds.
Russian officials likewise downplayed expectations of immediate outcomes, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying it was premature to discuss concrete results while President Vladimir Putin remained informed about developments in Geneva. As the conflict nears its fourth year, negotiations continue alongside ongoing military operations, reflecting a slow and uncertain diplomatic process shaped by deep political divisions and continued violence on the ground.
