Ukraine team heads for Geneva talks as Moscow, Kyiv build military pressure

"Ukrainian officials have left for Geneva, Switzerland, where another round of negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia is set to take place. On the way to Geneva. The next round of negotiations is ahead. Along the way, we will discuss the lessons of our history with our colleagues, seek the right conclusions, Ukraine's Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov posted on his Telegram channel on Monday,"

"The Geneva talks follow two rounds of the United States-brokered negotiations held in the United Arab Emirates in January and early February. The last meeting marked the first direct public talks between Moscow and Kyiv on a plan proposed by the Trump administration to end the conflict, which started with Russia invading its neighbouring country in February 2022."

"The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia. Among the most contentious issues is the long-term fate of the eastern Ukrainian region, large parts of which Russia has occupied. Moscow is demanding that Kyiv pull its troops from the Donbas region, including heavily fortified cities that sit atop vast natural resources, as a condition for any deal."

Ukraine, Russia and the United States are scheduled to meet in Geneva for a third trilateral round of negotiations aimed at ending the four-year war that began with Russia's 2022 invasion. Ukrainian officials traveled to Geneva; Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov said the delegation would discuss historical lessons and seek the right conclusions. The Geneva talks follow two U.S.-brokered rounds in the United Arab Emirates that were described as constructive but failed to produce a breakthrough. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hopes the Geneva talks will be serious and substantive. Key disputes include concessions, the long-term fate of Donbas, Russian troop withdrawals and Moscow's demand for recognition of annexed eastern territories. Kyiv said the conflict should be frozen.

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