Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Geneva ahead of peace talks

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are in Geneva as preparations proceed for a new round of talks scheduled to begin on Tuesday in a trilateral format with the United States, with discussions expected to focus on key security, territorial, and humanitarian issues as both sides come under pressure to move toward a settlement.

A Russian delegation headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky is set to take part in the Geneva meetings after the Kremlin named him to lead the team in a shift from the senior military officials who headed previous rounds in Abu Dhabi.

Ukraine’s negotiating team will be led by Rustem Umerov, head of the National Security and Defense Council, with Kyiv saying the delegation has begun preparing for the talks and that it is working within the framework set by the country’s leadership to achieve a substantive and lasting peace.

The negotiations come amid continued conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with the war nearing its fourth year and both sides maintaining sharply divergent positions on core issues, particularly land and post‑war arrangements.

Previous rounds of US‑mediated talks, including meetings in Abu Dhabi, have so far yielded limited progress on ending the conflict, with Moscow and Kyiv still far apart on territorial questions and security guarantees.

Russian officials have indicated that land will be a central focus in Geneva, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying discussions are likely to center on territorial issues, while US President Donald Trump has urged both sides to “get moving” toward an agreement.

The United States, which is brokering the talks, is expected to keep security and humanitarian concerns high on the agenda, but the outcome of the Geneva meetings remains uncertain, with significant gaps persisting between Kyiv and Moscow even as diplomatic efforts intensify alongside continued fighting on the ground.