Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva ended shorter than expected
Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia lasted only two hours in the new round in Geneva. While Ukrainian President Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately stalling the negotiation process, both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, particularly regarding territorial control in eastern Ukraine.
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The new round of peace talks initiated by Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Geneva with US mediation ended much shorter than expected, lasting approximately two hours. Following the meetings, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that no progress had been made at the negotiating table and expressed that the process was being intentionally slowed down by Moscow.
President Zelensky, in a statement made via social media, included the words, "Russia is making an effort to deliberately delay negotiations that could be concluded." The Russian state news agency confirmed that the talks had ended immediately after these statements by Zelensky.
The Russian representative chairing the negotiations, Vladimir Medinsky, announced that the process could resume in a short time but did not specify a definitive date. The Ukrainian delegation also confirmed that the meetings lasted approximately two hours.
The mediation role of the United States was also a target of criticism on the agenda of the talks. President Zelensky criticized US President Donald Trump's call for Ukraine to "be open to compromise," arguing that this approach was not fair. In an interview with US media, the Ukrainian leader stated that any plan involving the abandonment of certain regions in eastern Ukraine would be rejected if submitted to a referendum in the country.
Trump, in a statement he made earlier in the week, had used the expressions, "Ukraine must come to the table quickly."
Independent sources regarding the first day of the talks reported that the meetings took place in a "quite tense" atmosphere and lasted six hours. The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, shared that practical issues and mechanisms regarding the implementation of decisions were discussed in this round.
These meetings held in Geneva were conducted following two rounds of talks that previously ended without results in Abu Dhabi. However, the parties are still unable to find common ground, particularly due to control issues in eastern Ukraine.
Russia continues to hold approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory. In the war, which has completed its fourth year, hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives to date, and millions of people have been forced to migrate from their homes.