Ukrainian Delegation Departs for US-Backed Peace Talks
A high-level Ukrainian team has set out for Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in a pivotal round of peace negotiations with Russian representatives and US mediators aimed at ending the nearly four-year war. The trilateral discussions, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, mark the latest attempt to find a diplomatic resolution to one of Europe’s longest-running conflicts.
Ukraine’s negotiators, traveling overland due to restricted airspace, expressed hopes that the talks would be substantive and constructive despite mounting skepticism about breakthrough progress. Both Kyiv and Moscow continue to fortify their military positions as the diplomatic push unfolds.
Stark Divisions as Key Issues Take Center Stage
Among the most contentious topics at the Geneva talks will be territorial control — particularly over the eastern Donbas region, which Russia insists must be recognised as its own as part of any settlement. Kyiv has flatly rejected unilateral pullbacks, demanding firm security guarantees and refusing to concede territory under current conditions.
The Kremlin has confirmed that its delegation, led by senior officials including an aide to President Putin and military representatives, is prepared to discuss “main issues” — but remains entrenched on core demands. The United States has been pressing both sides toward compromise, setting a June deadline for reaching an agreement, yet analysts say expectations for major concessions remain low.
Frontline Violence Raises Stakes Ahead of Talks
As diplomats gather in Switzerland, the conflict continues unabated on the battlefield. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have engaged in recent offensives, including long-range drone strikes and counterattacks that have caused civilian infrastructure damage and casualties. These developments underscore the fragile balance between diplomatic negotiations and escalating military pressure.
International observers have noted that with the war now in its fourth year, prospects for peace remain uncertain, and the Geneva talks represent a crucial test of whether diplomatic channels can overcome deep-seated strategic divides.
