Trump Pressures Ukraine to Reach Agreement with Russia in Geneva Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump has pressured Kyiv to quickly pursue an agreement to end the four-year conflict with Russia.

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators concluded the first day of a new round of U.S.-mediated peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday, with discussions set to continue for two days. Prior to the Swiss talks, Russia carried out overnight airstrikes across parts of Ukraine, inflicting serious damage on the power grid in the southern port city of Odesa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attacks left tens of thousands without heat and water. In his nightly address, Zelensky said: "We are ready to move quickly towards a worthy agreement to end the war." He added, while awaiting a report from the negotiating team in Geneva: "The question for the Russians is: what exactly do they want?"

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's senior negotiator and head of the National Security and Defense Council, said in a statement that Tuesday's talks focused on "practical issues and mechanisms for possible decisions," without providing details. He noted that negotiations would resume on Wednesday for the final day.

Russian officials have made no public comments on the talks. Russian news agencies, citing a source, reported that the session was "very tense" and lasted six hours in various bilateral and trilateral formats.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner represented the Trump administration. In a rare parallel effort on two global crises, they took part in indirect morning talks with Iranian officials in Geneva before mediating the Ukraine-Russia discussions.