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By JAMEY KEATEN and ILLIA NOVIKOV
GENEVA (AP) — The latest round of U.S.-facilitated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv regarding Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine concluded on Wednesday without any significant progress, as both parties described the discussions as “difficult.” This development comes as the conflict nears its fourth anniversary next week.
These talks in Switzerland mark the third series of direct negotiations organized by the United States, following earlier meetings this year in Abu Dhabi. Those previous discussions were labeled as constructive, yet they too failed to yield substantial progress. With that backdrop, expectations for the Geneva talks were modest.
“The negotiations were not easy,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked after the talks ended. Speaking with his negotiation team via phone from Kyiv, he conveyed his sentiments about the discussions.
Earlier, Zelenskyy had accused Russia of attempting to “drag out negotiations” while it continues its military assault, a claim he and other European leaders have frequently made in the past.
Nonetheless, some advancements were reported on military matters, although significant political disagreements persist. These include the contentious issue of the future of eastern Ukrainian territories currently under Russian control, which President Vladimir Putin intends to retain, according to Zelenskyy.
The head of the Russian delegation, Putin adviser Vladimir Medinsky, told reporters that the two days of talks in Geneva “were difficult but businesslike.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it’s “too early” to speak about the outcome of the talks. Putin has been receiving reports about progress in Geneva, he said.
Both sides said a new round of talks is set to take place.
US will help monitor any ceasefire
Zelenskyy described the military discussions as “constructive,” adding that the armed forces of both countries considered how any future ceasefire might be monitored.
“Monitoring will definitely be carried out with participation of the American side,” he said in a voice message shared in a media group chat on WhatsApp.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on social media that Washington’s push for peace in Ukraine over the past year has “brought about meaningful progress,” without elaborating.
The two armies remain locked in battle on the roughly 750-mile front line, while Russia bombards civilian areas of Ukraine daily.
Hours after the first day of talks ended on Tuesday, Russian drones killed a woman and injured a 6-year-old girl and 18-month-old toddler in the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzhia, officials said.
Overnight, Russia launched one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Europe is involved
Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian and American envoys in Geneva met with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
Europe’s participation in the process is “indispensable,” Zelenskyy said.
European leaders, mindful of Putin’s wider ambitions, say their own security is at stake in Ukraine and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.
Russia and Ukraine appear to still be far apart on their demands for a settlement.
Zelenskyy has offered a ceasefire and a face-to-face meeting with Putin. But Moscow wants a comprehensive agreement before committing to a truce.
Putin’s key goals remain what he declared when Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022: Ukraine must renounce joining NATO, sharply reduce the size of its army and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.
Additionally, Putin wants Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the four eastern regions Moscow has occupied but doesn’t fully control.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine won’t surrender land to Russia.
Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
