US-Ukraine talks in Geneva end without breakthrough

US push for a deal

Former US leader Donald Trump has advocated ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II but has yet to broker a deal between Moscow and Kyiv. Previous rounds of US-led negotiations in Geneva and Abu Dhabi failed to produce compromises, particularly on territorial disputes.

Russia signals no deadlines

Russia maintains its stance on gaining full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, "Have you heard anything from us about deadlines? We have no deadlines, we have tasks. We are getting them done."

Ukraine seeks leaders’ summit

Kyiv insists that only a summit between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin can break the deadlock. Thursday’s talks aimed to lay the groundwork for such a meeting.

Rustem Umerov stated that Ukraine seeks to "synchronize positions" with the US ahead of fresh trilateral talks in March. Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev attended the talks but did not meet with the Ukrainian side.

Drone and missile attacks

Hours before the Geneva meeting, Russian forces launched about 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine, wounding over two dozen people across at least six regions. Explosions were reported in central Kyiv, while strikes hit an electricity substation in Odesa region and a school building in Zaporizhzhia region.

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported widespread destruction in eight regions, damaging homes and apartment buildings.

Exchange of soldiers’ remains

Ahead of the talks, Russia returned the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers, while Kyiv sent 35 Russian bodies. These exchanges remain one of the few cooperative actions between the two nations.

Path forward

Zelensky spoke with Trump on Wednesday before the Geneva talks, with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participating in the call. Ukraine emphasizes that resolving key issues, including control of Donbas, requires a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin. Russia continues to demand full control of the eastern Donetsk region, while Ukraine insists on security guarantees before agreeing to any deal.