After 35 minutes of tense discussions, the Russia-Ukraine peace talks have concluded without a breakthrough. The trilateral meetings, held in Geneva, were described as 'difficult' by both the chief Russian negotiator and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, despite US envoy Steve Witkoff's optimism. While some progress was made on military issues, an agreement on the crucial territory issue remains elusive, with Moscow and Kyiv's positions still far apart. Russia's demand for full control of the eastern Donbas region, which Ukraine refuses to concede, is a major sticking point. Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic about future meetings. Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov struck a more positive note, emphasizing the 'substantive and intensive' nature of the discussions. However, Zelensky accused Russia of trying to prolong negotiations, and the war's impact on Ukrainians continues, with deadly aerial attacks still occurring daily. The talks, which included European representatives, have faced challenges in including them in the US-led negotiations. As the war enters its fourth year, the substantial distance between Moscow's demands and Kyiv's vision of a 'just peace' remains a significant obstacle to a resolution.
