Geneva Talks: U.S. and Ukraine push to end war as Russia rejects deadlines
Geneva Talks: U.S. and Ukraine push to end war as Russia rejects deadlines
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators press for progress in Geneva while Moscow insists there are no deadlines—only tasks to complete, as talks continue.
In Geneva, U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators wrapped a new round of talks aimed at speeding up efforts to end Russia's four-year invasion of Ukraine, even as Moscow signalled it was in no hurry to sign a deal. An AFP photographer captured the Ukrainian lead negotiator Rustem Umerov leaving the Hotel des Bergues, the venue for the discussions, as the American delegation departed. Russia stated there would be no deadlines, only tasks to complete, a line that underscored the persistent deadlock over core issues, including territory.
Ukraine signalled a desire to synchronize positions with Washington ahead of fresh trilateral talks planned for March, while Kyiv pushed for momentum toward a possible leaders’ summit between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to break the impasse. A bilateral meeting between the American delegation and Ukrainian representatives began during the Geneva session, with names such as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner present as Kyiv sought to align its strategy with Washington.
Russia’s Kirill Dmitriev was present at the venue, though there was no clear indication he met with the Ukrainian side, according to state media. Dmitriev declined comment on the talks, reflecting the opaque nature of the negotiations that have stretched over multiple rounds in Geneva and Abu Dhabi.
Kyiv has consistently argued that only a leaders’ meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy can unlock a breakthrough, and officials said the February 26 discussions aimed to lay groundwork for such a summit during these talks. As negotiators in Geneva continue their work, both sides acknowledge the high stakes and the difficult path ahead toward a durable agreement to halt the conflict.
