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“Meaningful Progress” Reported in US-Moderated Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Tensions
Geneva, Switzerland – U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced “meaningful progress” early Wednesday in tri-lateral talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The discussions, moderated by the U.S. in Geneva, have been credited by Witkoff to President Donald Trump’s efforts in bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table.
While Witkoff offered no specific details on the achievements, he stated, “Both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal.” This message was shared by the envoy on social media.
However, the accounts from Russia and Ukraine regarding Tuesday’s six-hour talks painted a less optimistic picture. Russia’s state-run TASS news agency described the discussions as “very tense,” while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized them as “difficult,” accusing Moscow of deliberately stalling.
Zelensky elaborated in a social media post, stating, “Yesterday’s meetings were indeed difficult, and we can state that Russia is trying to drag out the negotiations, which could already have moved to the final stage. We are grateful to the American side for their attention to detail and patience in talks with the current Russian representatives.”
Despite the differing perspectives on the progress, a source within the Russian delegation informed TASS that all parties had agreed to continue the talks on Wednesday.
These negotiations are taking place just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, with no signs of a de-escalation in hostilities. Overnight, at least two people were killed and 25 injured in strikes across five eastern, southern, and central Ukrainian provinces. Ukrainian Air Force updates indicated that Russian forces launched 126 drones and one ballistic missile.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported one injury in Cheboksary, 440 miles east of Moscow, after Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault into Russian territory. The ministry claimed air defenses successfully downed 43 of the attacking drones.
Previous rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi in January and earlier this month failed to overcome key sticking points, including Russia’s demand for Ukraine to cede territory and Ukraine’s insistence on robust Western security guarantees.
The current negotiations are based on a heavily revised 28-point plan, initially drafted by Witkoff’s team and Russian officials in November. This plan proposes Ukraine relinquish Luhansk and Donetsk, including areas its forces currently control, in exchange for security guarantees. Kyiv has consistently rejected giving up territory it occupies, but the U.S. is reportedly advocating for a compromise solution that would designate these areas as a demilitarized “special economic” buffer zone.
The issue of security guarantees remains a significant hurdle. Moscow maintains that any guarantees cannot involve Western troops on the ground, a condition Ukraine believes is essential for any credible security assurance.