Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting in Switzerland for the latest round of Geneva talks mediated by the United States, just days before the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Expectations for progress remain limited, with Moscow maintaining its demands over Ukrainian territory while fighting continues across multiple fronts.
Subzero attacks continue overnight
Russia launched a large combined aerial assault hours before the Geneva talks opened, striking 12 Ukrainian regions with around 400 drones and nearly 30 missiles. Ukrainian officials said at least three people were killed.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the strikes demonstrated the extent to which Russia disregards peace efforts, while Moscow reported that its air defences had intercepted more than 150 drones and confirmed a fire at an oil refinery following a Ukrainian strike.
Delegations and mediation
Tuesday’s Geneva talks are being mediated by US special envoy Steve Witkoff alongside Jared Kushner. Ukraine is represented by National Security Council secretary Rustem Umerov and presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov, while Russia’s delegation includes presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and military intelligence figures.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no immediate breakthrough should be expected, noting discussions would continue into Wednesday. Speaking aboard Air Force One, US President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to come to the negotiating table quickly, signalling frustration over the prolonged conflict.
Territory and security guarantees
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including large parts of the eastern Donbas region, and continues to demand further territorial concessions. Kyiv has rejected those demands and insists robust Western security guarantees must precede any agreement.
Ukraine’s deputy energy minister Artem Nekrasov said overnight strikes near the frontline city of Slovyansk killed three energy workers. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported nine additional injuries, including children, alongside damage to residential buildings and railway infrastructure.
Energy crisis deepens
Kyiv confirmed that 12 regions suffered damage, leaving thousands without electricity in the southern city of Odesa. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, described the destruction to local power infrastructure as extremely serious and warned recovery would take significant time.
Ukraine continues to face a severe energy crisis after months of sustained Russian attacks on infrastructure during freezing winter conditions.
Cross-border strikes escalate
Ukraine also launched overnight drone strikes inside Russia, sparking fires at the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region and igniting an oil storage reservoir. Authorities in the Belgorod border region reported dozens of Ukrainian drones causing major damage to power facilities.
The Geneva talks follow trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi last month – the first three-way meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the US since the 2022 invasion. While those talks produced no diplomatic breakthrough, they were followed by the first prisoner-of-war exchanges in several months.
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