Russia signals "no rush" for peace as Geneva talks begin

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — While high-level delegations from the United States and Ukraine convened in Geneva to explore pathways for ending the war, Russia significantly intensified its military operations and signaled it is in no hurry to sign a peace agreement.

The meeting, held during a break in separate negotiations, featured U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting with Ukraine’s National Security Secretary Rustem Umerov. Umerov announced via social media that the discussions focused on necessary economic support for Ukraine's reconstruction and long-term cooperation, serving as a preparatory step for a trilateral round of negotiations with Russia scheduled for early March.

Zelenskyy pushes for leader-level summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a telephone call with President Trump, expressed his gratitude for the U.S. efforts and engagement in ending the conflict. Zelenskyy is reportedly advocating for the upcoming round of trilateral negotiations—involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia—to pave the way for a direct meeting between heads of state.

"This is the only way to solve all complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war," Zelenskyy stated on social media, indicating that President Trump supports this initiative. Zelenskyy believes a face-to-face meeting between himself, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump would be decisive in unlocking a final agreement, although the Kremlin has not yet signaled its approval for such a summit.

Lavrov: "We have tasks, not deadlines"

Despite President Trump's insistence on a rapid conclusion to the war, Moscow has maintained a defiant stance regarding the timeline for peace. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that it is "too early" to make predictions about when a deal might be signed. "We do not have deadlines, we have tasks. We are fulfilling them," Lavrov remarked, emphasizing that Moscow is not working toward a specific date.

Negotiations mediated by the U.S. are reportedly at an impasse over territorial disputes. Moscow’s conditions for peace reportedly include the surrender of Ukrainian territories that Russia has not yet captured in battle—a demand that Kyiv remains steadfast in rejecting.

War entering its fifth year with renewed violence

As the conflict enters its fifth year since the invasion on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a massive overnight assault involving 420 drones and 39 missiles, specifically targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. President Zelenskyy reported that 11 of these were ballistic missiles, causing widespread destruction in eight regions and damaging numerous residential buildings.

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is becoming increasingly dire as Russia's focus on the power grid leaves millions without heating during freezing winter temperatures. While the Kremlin denies deliberately targeting civilians, 62-year-old teacher Larysa Fuzik described the enduring trauma: "Even though four years have passed since the war began, every time the siren sounds, I feel such fear and cold inside that I can't describe it".

Military casualties and humanitarian cooperation

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that their large-scale air strikes were a response to "Kyiv's attacks on civilian facilities" and asserted that all targets were reached. Moscow further alleged that the Ukrainian army lost approximately 1,115 soldiers across the entire front line in the past 24 hours alone.

In a rare area of cooperation, the two sides continue to exchange the bodies of fallen soldiers. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiating delegation, announced that Russia recently handed over the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers in exchange for 35 Russian soldiers. This follows a year where Russia reportedly returned over 15,000 Ukrainian remains to Kyiv.

Kyiv calls for increased allied support

President Zelenskyy finds himself in a difficult position as President Trump exerts pressure to consider Russia’s territorial concessions. Struggling to maintain defensive capabilities against the renewed Russian onslaught, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called on allies to bolster military aid. "While the whole world is asking Moscow to finally stop this meaningless war, Putin is relying on more terror, attacks, and aggression," Sybiha stated.

The diplomatic efforts in Geneva continue under heavy security, but the stark contrast between the talk of peace at the negotiating table and the escalation of violence on the battlefield highlights the immense challenges ahead.

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