First Day of Peace Talks Concludes in Geneva
Russian and Ukrainian delegations have concluded the first day of US-mediated peace negotiations in Geneva, occurring a week before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's chief negotiator, announced that discussions would resume on Wednesday morning in the Swiss city.
Expectations for a significant breakthrough during this third round of trilateral talks remain low, as the Kremlin maintains its maximalist territorial demands from Ukraine.
Continued Russian Strikes Amid Negotiations
Russian attacks on Ukraine persist nightly, further damaging the already compromised power grid amidst subzero temperatures.
Just hours prior to the Geneva meeting, Russia launched a large-scale combined aerial assault on Ukraine, targeting 12 regions with approximately 400 drones and nearly 30 missiles. Ukrainian officials reported at least three fatalities resulting from the strikes.
In response, Russian authorities claimed their air defenses intercepted over 150 drones. Additionally, a fire broke out at an oil refinery following a Ukrainian drone strike.
Focus of Talks and Negotiation Dynamics
On Tuesday evening, Umerov stated on social media that the discussions concentrated on
"practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions". He added that he would brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the outcomes.
Russia's state news agency RIA cited a source describing Tuesday's six-hour negotiations as tense, conducted through various bilateral and trilateral formats.
The talks are facilitated by Steve Witkoff, a special envoy appointed by former US President Donald Trump, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.
Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, leads the Russian delegation, which, along with Ukraine's team, includes senior military officials.
Political Context and Statements
Prior to the talks, Donald Trump urged Ukraine to
"better come to the table fast."He has previously expressed frustration over the slow progress in resolving the four-year conflict.
Currently, Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including significant parts of the eastern Donbas region. The Kremlin demands Ukraine cede the remainder of Donbas, a condition Ukraine has firmly rejected.
Ukraine insists on strong security guarantees from Western allies, including the United States, before agreeing to any settlement with Russia.
Impact of Overnight Attacks and Official Responses
In Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybhiha condemned the overnight Russian strikes, stating they demonstrate
"the extent to which Russia disregards peace efforts".
Ukraine's deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov reported that at least three energy workers were killed near the frontline city of Slovyansk during Monday's overnight attacks.
President Zelensky confirmed that nine additional individuals, including children, were injured nationwide. More than ten residential buildings and railway infrastructure sustained damage.
On social media platform X, Zelensky wrote,
"Russia must be held to account for its aggression. For peace to be real and just, action must target the sole source of this aggression".
Ukrainian authorities reported that 12 regions were struck, damaging infrastructure and leaving thousands without electricity in the southern port city of Odesa.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, described the damage to Odesa's power infrastructure as
"incredibly serious", warning that restoration would require significant time.
Energy Crisis and Counterattacks
Ukraine faces a severe energy crisis after months of relentless Russian attacks on its infrastructure amid a harsh winter.
In retaliation, Ukraine launched its own attacks overnight. Officials reported a fire at the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia's southern Krasnodar region following a drone strike, which also ignited a reservoir storing oil products.
The border region of Belgorod continued to experience attacks, with Ukraine deploying dozens of drones causing substantial damage to power infrastructure.
Background on Previous Talks
These discussions follow last month's trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, marking the first three-way meeting between Russia, Ukraine, and the US since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Those talks ended without a breakthrough, although they were followed shortly by the first prisoner of war exchanges in several months.
Additional reporting by Jaroslav Lukiv
