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Delegations gather in Geneva as violence persists
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators convened in Geneva on Tuesday for another round of U.S.-brokered discussions, just days before the fourth anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion. The talks opened against a backdrop of near-daily Russian airstrikes that have crippled Ukraine's energy grid as winter temperatures plunge below freezing.
Low expectations for diplomatic progress
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters not to anticipate immediate results, noting that discussions would extend into Wednesday. Moscow has maintained its demand for Ukrainian territorial concessions, including control over the entire Donbas region, which Kyiv has firmly rejected.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the latest attacks as evidence of Russia's disregard for peace efforts. Hours before the Geneva talks began, Moscow launched a large-scale aerial assault involving 400 drones and nearly 30 missiles across 12 Ukrainian regions, killing at least three people.
Key figures at the negotiating table
The U.S. delegation is led by Steve Witkoff, a special envoy appointed by President Donald Trump, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law. Ukraine's team includes National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov. Russia sent presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and military intelligence officials.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump urged Ukraine to "come to the table fast," reflecting his frustration with the stalled conflict resolution process.
Civilian toll and infrastructure devastation
Ukrainian officials reported that Monday's overnight strikes killed three energy workers near Slovyansk and injured nine others, including children. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that over 10 residential buildings and railway infrastructure were damaged, while thousands in the southern port city of Odesa lost power.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, described the damage to Odesa's power infrastructure as "incredibly serious," warning that repairs would take considerable time. The country faces a severe energy crisis after months of relentless Russian attacks, compounded by subzero winter temperatures.
Ukraine retaliates with drone strikes on Russian soil
Kyiv launched its own series of attacks overnight, targeting an oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region. Officials confirmed a fire at the Ilsky refinery and a nearby oil product storage reservoir. The Belgorod border region also sustained damage to power infrastructure from Ukrainian drones.
Russia claimed its air defenses intercepted more than 150 drones during the assaults.
Recent diplomatic efforts yield limited results
These talks follow last month's trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi-the first three-way meeting between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. since the 2022 invasion. While no major breakthroughs emerged, the discussions were followed by the first prisoner-of-war exchanges in months.
"For peace to be real and just, action must target the sole source of this aggression,"
President Volodymyr Zelensky
Kyiv insists that robust Western security guarantees, particularly from the U.S., must precede any settlement with Moscow.
