Zelensky Says Some Progress Made in US-Mediated Talks with Russia, But Key Territorial Issues Remain Unresolved

Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that while some progress was made in talks mediated by the United States in Geneva between Ukraine and Russia, no agreement was reached on the main issue of territory.

The United States is pushing for an end to the nearly four-year war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and devastated large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine, but Moscow and Kyiv remain divided over who gets which land in a post-war settlement.

Russia is insisting on full control over Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region as part of any deal and has warned it will take it by force if Kyiv does not come to the negotiating table.

A politically and militarily weakened Ukraine has rejected this demand. Ukraine has indicated it will not sign an agreement without security guarantees that prevent Russia from attacking again.

"We can see that some fundamental work has been done, but reaching an agreement right now is not easy," President Zelensky told reporters, including those from AFP, after the talks concluded.

He added, "With US mediation, both sides have agreed on 'almost all issues' related to the ceasefire monitoring mechanism. However, sensitive issues remain unresolved, concerning the future of the occupied territory in Ukraine's eastern region and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant under Russian control."

The head of the Russian delegation stated that the talks were 'difficult' and that further talks are planned for the future.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This conflict has resulted in Ukraine losing significant physical infrastructure, including energy facilities, while thousands of civilians have died and millions have been forced to flee their homes.