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Ukraine and Russia concluded the first of two days of U.S.-mediated peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump called on Kyiv to move quickly toward a negotiated settlement to end the four-year war. The high-stakes diplomatic meeting comes amid intensified fighting and fresh Russian airstrikes targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
Overnight, Russian forces launched air attacks across multiple regions of Ukraine, severely damaging the power grid in the southern port city of Odesa. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the strikes left tens of thousands of residents without heat and water during harsh winter conditions. In his nightly address, Zelenskiy reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to reach a “worthy agreement” to end the conflict but questioned Moscow’s true intentions.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, described the Geneva discussions as focused on practical mechanisms and possible решений, without revealing specifics. Talks are set to continue for a final day on Wednesday. Russian officials have not issued formal statements, though state media cited a source calling the six-hour negotiations “very tense.”
The Geneva meeting follows earlier U.S.-brokered discussions in Abu Dhabi that failed to produce a breakthrough, with both sides divided over key issues, including control of eastern Ukrainian territory. Russia is reportedly demanding that Ukraine surrender the remaining 20% of Donetsk region it does not fully control—terms Kyiv firmly rejects.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner represented Washington in Geneva, also holding parallel talks with Iranian officials. Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, urged Ukraine to “come to the table fast,” signaling increased diplomatic pressure.
As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches on February 24, the war has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and devastated cities. Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and parts of Donbas, while ongoing strikes continue to strain Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and humanitarian conditions.
