Envoys signal no breakthrough on bridging Russia and Ukraine’s military, political differences

GENEVA — The newest U.S.-brokered talks between envoys from Moscow and Kyiv over Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine ended Wednesday with no signal of a breakthrough and with each side saying the talks have been “troublesome,” because the battle’s fourth anniversary approaches subsequent week.

The negotiations in Switzerland have been the third spherical of direct talks organized by the U.S., after conferences earlier this yr in Abu Dhabi that officers described as constructive however which additionally made no main headway. Expectations for vital progress in Geneva have been low.

“The negotiations weren’t straightforward,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated after the talks broke up and he spoke briefly by cellphone from Kyiv together with his negotiating workforce.

He earlier accused Russia of “attempting to pull out negotiations” whereas it presses on with its invasion — an accusation he and European leaders have repeatedly made previously.

Regardless of that, some progress was made on army points though political variations stay deep, together with over the way forward for land in japanese Ukraine that’s occupied by the Russian military and that Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to maintain, Zelenskyy stated.

The top of the Russian delegation, Putin adviser Vladimir Medinsky, instructed reporters that the 2 days of talks in Geneva “have been troublesome however businesslike.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters that it’s “too early” to talk about the end result of the talks. Putin has been receiving experiences about progress in Geneva, he stated.

Each side stated a brand new spherical of talks is ready to happen.

US will assist monitor any ceasefire

Zelenskyy described the army discussions as “constructive,” including that the armed forces of each international locations thought-about how any future ceasefire could be monitored.

“Monitoring will certainly be carried out with participation of the American facet,” he stated in a voice message shared in a media group chat on WhatsApp.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated on social media that Washington’s push for peace in Ukraine over the previous yr has “led to significant progress,” with out elaborating.

The 2 armies stay locked in battle on the roughly 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) entrance line, whereas Russia bombards civilian areas of Ukraine every day.

Hours after the primary day of talks ended on Tuesday, Russian drones killed a lady and injured a 6-year-old woman and 18-month-old toddler within the southern Ukraine metropolis of Zaporizhzhia, officers stated.

In a single day, Russia launched one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones at Ukraine, in keeping with the Ukrainian air drive.

Europe is concerned

Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian and American envoys in Geneva met with representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Europe’s participation within the course of is “indispensable,” Zelenskyy stated.

European leaders, conscious of Putin’s wider ambitions, say their very own safety is at stake in Ukraine and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

Russia and Ukraine seem to nonetheless be far aside on their calls for for a settlement.

Zelenskyy has supplied a ceasefire and a face-to-face assembly with Putin. However Moscow needs a complete settlement earlier than committing to a truce.

Putin’s key targets stay what he declared when Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022: Ukraine should surrender becoming a member of NATO, sharply cut back the dimensions of its military and defend Russian language and tradition to maintain the nation in Moscow’s orbit.

Moreover, Putin needs Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the 4 japanese areas Moscow has occupied however doesn’t absolutely management.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine received’t give up land to Russia.

Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.