3rd round of trilateral Ukraine talks begin in Geneva

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - A third round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US began in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, as the sides attempt to advance diplomatic efforts to establish a truce.

The negotiations come a week before the fourth anniversary of the Moscow-Kyiv war, with armed conflict still underway.

The Russian delegation is headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, marking a shift from the senior military officials who led previous rounds in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Geneva talks would cover a "wider range of issues," including what he described as the "main issues concerning the territories."

Ukraine's team is led by Rustem Umerov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and includes senior political and security officials. Kyiv said the delegation is working within the framework set by the country’s leadership to achieve a substantive and lasting peace.

Ukrainian officials are expected to push for an energy ceasefire and to clarify how a monitoring mechanism would function if a truce were reached.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned ahead of the meeting that Moscow may be preparing another "massive strike," arguing that Russia’s military pressure has not eased even as negotiations resume.

The talks will be held largely behind closed doors with no immediate statement to the media expected.