Ukraine better come to table fast: Trump as fresh round of peace talks begin

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Geneva on Tuesday for a fresh round of US-brokered negotiations aimed at ending nearly four years of war, but expectations for any breakthrough remained low amid ongoing strikes and Moscow's demand for Ukrainian territory.

Hours before the delegations met, US President Donald Trump urged faster engagement from Kyiv, telling reporters that Ukraine had "better come to the table fast."

The 2-day trilateral talks in Switzerland come a week before the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and follow earlier trilateral contacts in Abu Dhabi that produced no political settlement.

Ukraine’s delegation head, Rustem Umerov, said the agenda would focus on security, humanitarian matters and that Kyiv would approach discussions "without excessive expectations." Images released by Umerov showed the Russian and Ukrainian teams seated opposite each other, with US mediators at the head of the table.

LOW EXPECTATIONS FROM TRILATERAL TALKS

According to reports, the disputes over the future of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory were expected to dominate the discussions. Moscow continues to press for Ukrainian concessions over eastern regions it controls or claims, while Kyiv has ruled out ceding land.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded any settlement must include credible post-war security guarantees backed by Western partners.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned against anticipating early results, saying the talks were likely to extend into a second day. Previous negotiating rounds have yielded few public details and no substantive political agreement.

The Russian delegation is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, a veteran negotiator from earlier contacts in 2022. Ukraine’s side includes senior national security and defence officials close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Alongside the political talks, military representatives from the United States, Russia and Ukraine were also expected in Geneva to examine technical questions such as how a ceasefire could be monitored and what mechanisms might be needed to implement any future agreement. Earlier military-level discussions had explored options for demilitarised zones and communication channels between forces.

OVERNIGHT STRIKES CONTINUE AS TALKS PROCEED

The negotiations unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing aerial bombardment. Ukrainian authorities said Russia attacked with 400 drones and almost 30 missiles overnight across multiple regions, damaging infrastructure and injuring civilians. Moscow said its air defences intercepted large numbers of Ukrainian drones and reported damage at energy facilities following cross-border strikes.

Zelenskyy added that Kyiv had accepted all realistic US proposals, including the idea of an unconditional and long-term ceasefire, and argued Moscow should be "held accountable" for continued attacks.

Russia occupies roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory after nearly four years of conflict along a front line stretching more than 1,200 kilometres.

- Ends

With inputs from agencies

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