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Two days of peace talks in Geneva between Ukraine and Russia ended on Wednesday without any progress, with President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Moscow of obstructing US-brokered efforts to end the four-year war.
Ukraine has faced repeated pressure from US President Donald Trump to agree to a deal that could mean painful concessions as Russian forces strike its power grid and slowly advance on the battlefield.
As the delegations met for a second day at a hotel in the Swiss city, mediated by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, Zelensky had called the first day "difficult."
"We can say that Russia is trying to drag out negotiations that may have already reached the final stage," he wrote in X.
Moments after his statement, the delegations broke off talks and said they would meet again in the future, without giving a date.
Russia's chief negotiator, former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky, described the talks as "difficult, but business-like."
Medinsky, whom Ukrainian officials have accused of engaging in history lectures instead of substantive talks, spoke with the Ukrainians for nearly two hours after the official talks ended, according to a representative of Kiev's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov.
A spokesman for Zelensky said the formal part of the talks had dealt with territory in eastern Ukraine and the fate of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, both sticking points since the beginning of the process.
Moscow wants Ukraine to relinquish roughly 20% of the eastern Donetsk region, which Russian forces have been unable to capture, something Kiev has consistently refused.
Meanwhile, Kiev wants Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, to be operated by the US and Ukraine, which Russia has called unacceptable.
Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and destroyed Ukrainian cities, towns and villages. Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians.
Trump has suggested twice in recent days that it is up to Kiev to ensure a deal is reached quickly. He told reporters that "Ukraine better sit down at the table quickly. That's all I'm telling you."
So said the British arms giant on Wednesday.
In an interview with American media outlet Axios, Zelensky was quoted as saying that it was "not fair" that Trump continues to publicly demand concessions from Ukraine, not Russia.
Zelensky also said that any plan that requires Ukraine to give up territory that Russia has not occupied in the east would be rejected if put to a referendum.
"I hope it's just his tactics and not his decision," Zelensky was quoted as saying.
The Geneva meeting follows two rounds of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi that failed to produce any progress. Both Zelensiy and Umerov have repeatedly stressed that they have thanked the US for its mediation in recent weeks.
Zelensky has expressed concern that the midterm elections for the US Congress in November could distract Washington from efforts to end Europe's biggest conflict since World War II.
Kiev is also seeking strong US-backed security guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks in the event of a peace deal.
US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and Brigadier General Michael Adamski participated in trilateral military negotiations on Wednesday, according to a US official.
Russian news agencies quoted a source as saying that Tuesday's six-hour talks had been "very tense".
Umerov had said that his delegation in Geneva did not have "excessive expectations."
Overall, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine's national territory, including Crimea, which it unilaterally seized and annexed in 2014.
It is slowly advancing along a front line of about 1,200 km (750 miles); analysts say it has gained about 1.5% of Ukraine since the start of 2024. However, its recent air strikes on energy infrastructure have left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without heat and electricity during an exceptionally harsh winter.
Ukraine is pushing for its European allies to be more involved in the peace process. Delegations from France, Germany, Britain and others were present in Geneva and briefed on the talks, but did not participate directly.
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