Peace negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States ended abruptly after about two hours today, with no public sign of progress. The talks, described as 'difficult' and 'very tense' by officials, appear to have stalled over key issues, including the fate of occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky told reporters that further negotiations would be held soon, without specifying a date. He described the talks as 'difficult, but businesslike'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of 'trying to drag out negotiations' when they could have reached the final stage.
The talks involved bilateral meetings between Ukraine and the US, as well as multilateral formats with European representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Zelenskyy stressed the importance of European participation in the process, stating that partners are capable of ensuring a constructive negotiation process and a dignified result.
Ukrainian officials confirmed that consultations are taking place in focus groups within political and military blocs, but no details were provided on the outcomes. The two sides remain at loggerheads on key issues, including control of territory in eastern Ukraine, which Russia demands as a price for ending the war—a demand Kyiv considers unacceptable.
