No Breakthrough: U.S.-brokered trilateral talks in Geneva confirm the chasm between Moscow and Kyiv

The Greek Courier

Sources: BBC, France 24

The U.S.-brokered trilateral talks in Geneva between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. concluded without a significant breakthrough, confirming the deep divisions between Moscow and Kyiv, reports Laura Gozzi from the BBC. After the trilateral session, Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky met privately with the Ukrainian side for about 90 minutes, with no details released.

The primary goal of a comprehensive peace agreement remains elusive, as the core issue of territory is unresolved. Russia continues to insist on full control over the eastern Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk), a demand Ukraine deems a "non-starter" as it involves relinquishing sovereign territory.

Some progress was reportedly made on military issues, specifically concerning the location of the front line and the monitoring of any potential ceasefire, according to a Ukrainian diplomatic source.

The main talks spanned two days, with the second day concluding much faster after only about two hours, following a longer session the previous day.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the negotiations as "not easy" due to the chasm between the delegations. In addition, he accused Russia of attempting to "drag out negotiations" while continuing military action. He also rejected the idea of a referendum on handing over Donbas and stressed the need for robust security guarantees from Western allies.

After the main trilateral session ended, Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky held a separate, closed-door meeting with the Ukrainian side for about an hour and a half, the details of which have not been released.

The Russian Delegation and Vladimir Medinsky

Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, and Metropolitan Tikhon (Georgiy Shevkunov), right, visit the Orthodox Russia Exhibition at the Manezh Exhibition Hall in Moscow, Tuesday, November 4, 2025. © Sergey Fadeichev, Sputnik via AP

The Russian delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, a presidential aide and ultraconservative historian. His presence signals that Russia is emphasizing its political-ideological line rather than purely technical military discussions.

As France 24's Paul Millar reports, Medinsky is known for rewriting Russian history textbooks to justify the invasion and promoting a nationalist narrative that positions Russia in opposition to the "collective West" and liberal democratic values. Past Ukrainian negotiators have accused him of using talks to deliver long lectures based on his nationalist reading of history. His leadership suggests Moscow prioritizes presenting its worldview and demanding respect for its "civilisational choices."

Medinsky has previously indicated a willingness for a prolonged conflict, reportedly stating they are "ready to fight for a year, two, three – however long it takes." Nevertheless, despite the difficult nature of the talks, Medinsky described them as "businesslike" and indicated that another meeting would occur "soon."

Current Military Action and External Pressure

The diplomatic deadlock is occurring alongside continued intense military action

On the eve of the Geneva talks, Russia launched a massive combined strike package, reportedly involving nearly 400 drones and dozens of missiles against 12 regions in Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure and causing widespread power outages.

At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump has shown increasing impatience, telling Ukraine it "better come to the table, fast," a sentiment Zelensky deemed "not fair" as it seemed to place the burden of compromise solely on Ukraine.

European officials from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy were also present in Geneva, holding separate talks with the Ukrainians, as Zelensky stressed that European participation is "indispensable" for any final agreement."