Senior Ukrainian and Russian officials are set to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, for a two-day round of talks starting Tuesday, days before the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The negotiations, brokered by the United States, follow earlier discussions in Abu Dhabi and are expected to include representatives from Washington, Kyiv and Moscow,The Guardianreported.

Despite renewed diplomatic momentum, expectations of a breakthrough remain low, with Russia continuing to press what Kyiv views as maximalist demands. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Geneva meeting would cover a “broader range of issues" than earlier rounds, including territorial questions and other proposals put forward by Moscow, according to the report.

The talks mark the first time the current negotiation track will be held on European soil, after previous rounds in Abu Dhabi and Istanbul. Washington is understood to have backed Geneva as the venue, with US envoys scheduled for other diplomatic meetings in the city the same week.

The negotiations are scheduled as a two-day meeting beginning Tuesday, just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s negotiating team will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin described as an arch-conservative figure who has previously questioned Ukrainian sovereignty.

He will be joined by Igor Kostyukov, chief of Russian military intelligence, and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, along with nearly two dozen officials, the report said.

Ukraine is expected to send the same delegation as in previous rounds, led by Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defence council,The Guardianreported.

While earlier talks focused largely on ceasefire proposals, the Geneva discussions are expected to address a wider agenda, including:

Ukraine has reiterated it will not give up territory in the Donbas region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “allowing the aggressor to take something is a big mistake" and warned that Russia cannot be stopped “with kisses or flowers".

Kyiv and Washington also differ on security guarantees, with the US proposing a 15-year commitment while Ukraine is seeking assurances lasting 30 to 50 years, the report said.

Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News