Zelenskyy Says Geneva Peace Talks With Russia Fall Short Amid Ongoing War

In a candid and measured assessment following hours of diplomatic engagement in Geneva, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that while discussions moved forward on certain military matters, they stopped short of producing a breakthrough.

“As of today, we cannot say that the outcome of the meetings in Geneva is sufficient,” Zelenskyy said in a video message shared on X (formerly Twitter), offering a transparent update on the state of negotiations.

The talks, hosted in Switzerland and brokered by the United States, marked the third direct round of negotiations this year between Kyiv and Moscow. Expectations heading into the Geneva discussions were already modest, given the depth of mistrust and the complexity of the issues at stake. The results, while not insignificant, did little to narrow the fundamental political divide between the two sides.

Military Discussions Advance, Political Issues Remain Unresolved

According to Zelenskyy, military representatives from both sides engaged in serious and substantive discussions. Progress was reportedly made on select operational and technical matters. However, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that the most difficult and sensitive topics remain unsettled.

“Sensitive political issues, potential compromises, and the required leaders’ meeting have not yet been adequately worked through,” he stated, signaling that the core disputes driving the conflict are far from resolution.

Among the unresolved issues is the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between national leaders – a development that many analysts believe would be critical for any meaningful diplomatic breakthrough. Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine continues to push for further talks and hopes the next round can take place later this month.

“We are looking forward to the next meeting, and it would be appropriate for it to still take place in February,” he added, underscoring Kyiv’s willingness to remain engaged in dialogue despite battlefield realities.

Fighting Continues as Diplomacy Proceeds

While negotiators met in Geneva, combat operations persisted across the approximately 1,250-kilometer front line. The ongoing hostilities served as a stark reminder of the fragile and uncertain nature of the diplomatic process.

Ukrainian officials reported that Russian drone strikes killed a woman and injured two young children in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia just hours after the first day of talks concluded. The Ukrainian Air Force further stated that Russia launched 126 long-range drones and a ballistic missile overnight, highlighting the scale of continued military pressure.

On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir putin was being briefed on developments from Geneva but cautioned that it was premature to draw conclusions about the negotiations’ outcome.

Major Gaps Remain Between Kyiv and Moscow

Despite ongoing diplomatic engagement, the divide between the two governments remains substantial. President Vladimir Putin has maintained demands that Ukraine withdraw from four eastern regions that Moscow claims to have annexed, abandon its aspirations to join NATO, and significantly reduce its military capabilities.

Zelenskyy, however, has consistently drawn a firm red line against territorial concessions. He has reiterated that Ukraine will not relinquish land under pressure, framing territorial integrity as a non-negotiable principle of national sovereignty.

As the war approaches its fourth anniversary, the contrast between the diplomatic table and the battlefield remains stark. Missiles and drones continue to shape daily realities, even as negotiators attempt to chart a path toward de-escalation.

For now, the Geneva peace talks represent incremental movement rather than a transformative moment. Diplomacy continues – cautious, deliberate, and overshadowed by conflict – with both sides signaling willingness to talk, but little sign yet of convergence on the political compromises required to end the war.