Ukraine and Russia delegates are set to meet for peace talks in Geneva in the upcoming week of February 23rd. The United States continues with pressures on Ukraine to concede territory while Ukraine remains steadfast in declining. There is skepticism surrounding the potential success of these talks since the two previous rounds of negotiations produced little headway. Reports suggest that both Ukraine and Russia are going into the Geneva talks with firm goals, which may make efforts to reach common ground more difficult. Despite upcoming negotiation talks, military conflict between the two countries continues, with both sides having carried out military actions in the past week.  

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, explains to Al Jazeera that “Even on the eve of the trilateral meetings in Geneva, the Russian army has no orders other than to continue striking Ukraine. This speaks volumes about how Russia regards the partners’ diplomatic efforts.” This statement illustrates Ukraine’s concerns that Russia is looking towards de-escalation negotiations. 

The demands that Russia is making are substantial, and with the U.S. backing some of these demands, Ukraine is facing a lot of pressure from multiple sides. According to Al Jazeera, Russia is demanding that Kyiv cede the remaining 20% of its territory in Donetsk. Ukraine is refusing to do so. This territorial concession is reportedly one of the main points that the U.S. is pressuring Ukraine to take. Additionally, Moscow is demanding that Kyiv pull its troops from the Donbas region as a condition for any agreement to be made. Russia also desires international recognition for the land it has unilaterally annexed in eastern Ukraine.  

There has been a lack of pressure from the U.S. on Russia to make any concessions on their part, and Zelensky has openly criticized this, stating that “Only with sufficient pressure on Russia and clear security guarantees for Ukraine can this war realistically be brought to an end.” 

Looking ahead, there is continued uncertainty about whether this meeting will be successful, as both countries are approaching the negotiations with fundamentally different positions. Some argue that the decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to send Vladimir Medinsky, who has participated in previous rounds of talks this year, signals that little will change. Critics claim that in past negotiations, he focused heavily on historical justifications for Russia’s invasion rather than talk of compromise. On the other hand, a political scientist in Russia argues that the large delegation (20 people) being sent to Geneva highlights a growing willingness to engage more seriously in negotiations.  

Previous negotiation talks this year have proved to be futile in providing any progress towards peace and security for both countries, especially Ukraine. The lack of external involvement has left Ukraine in a weakened position. Much of Ukraine’s ability to maintain its sovereignty has relied heavily on drone warfare and the Western supply of arms. 

While diplomatic efforts, such as the upcoming Geneva talks, should be applauded as a step toward dialogue, it is likely that this war will continue. However, there is a possibility that the U.S. will have a larger role because President Donald Trump has claimed that he wants this war to be resolved by June 2026, warning that “Ukraine better come to the table fast.” Some opinion writers theorize that Trump’s emphasis on ending the war may be tied more to his desire to secure a major foreign policy victory before the upcoming midterm elections rather than to establish security between the two countries.  

To conclude, this conflict has become Europe’s deadliest war since 1945, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, millions displaced from their homes, and many Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages devastated by the fighting. Therefore, Ukraine is eager to put an end to the fighting with clear objectives of restoring its sovereignty and obtaining security agreements from Russia. Russia, however, has signaled a willingness to continue the war until its territorial (controlling roughly 23-25% of Ukraine’s total land area) and political demands are met. 

If meaningful progress toward peace is to be achieved, the U.S. needs to apply balanced pressure on both sides. Pressuring Ukraine alone to concede territory risks undermining its sovereignty, while failing to impose consequences on Russia reduces incentives for serious negotiation. A sustainable resolution will likely require firm diplomatic engagement, clear security guarantees, and credible consequences should Russia refuse to negotiate peace.