Russian and Ukrainian officials ended the first day of U.S.-brokered peace talks in Geneva, just one week before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The talks are being seen as an important attempt to reduce tensions and explore ways to end the long-running conflict.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said that discussions would continue in Geneva the following morning. However, expectations for a major breakthrough remain low. The Kremlin has not changed its strong demands, which include control over certain Ukrainian territories.
Only hours before the talks began, Russia launched a large aerial attack on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said that 12 regions were targeted with around 400 drones and nearly 30 missiles. At least three people were reported killed.
At the same time, Russia claimed that its air defence systems shot down more than 150 Ukrainian drones. Russian authorities also said that an oil refinery caught fire after a Ukrainian drone strike.
In a statement on social media, Umerov said the talks focused on practical issues and how possible solutions could be implemented. He said he would brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the outcome of the first day’s discussions.
Russia’s state news agency reported that the six-hour negotiations were tense and were held in both bilateral and trilateral formats. Talks are expected to continue, but major differences between the two sides remain.