US-brokered Russia-Ukraine talks disrupted by deadly drone strikes in Geneva

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have expressed concerns about reaching a ceasefire agreement during upcoming talks. The two leaders met at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, where they discussed the prospects for peace negotiations.

Zelenskyy stated that while he hopes to make “substantive” progress in the trilateral meeting next week, it often feels like the two sides are discussing different issues. He noted that the Americans frequently return to the topic of concessions, but these concessions are often only considered within the context of Ukraine, not Russia.

Rubio expressed uncertainty about Moscow’s willingness to make a peace deal, stating that “we don’t know if the Russians are serious about ending the war.” He also indicated that the US will continue to test Russia’s intentions.

The negotiations are focused on several key issues, including Russia’s demand for a full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern region of Donetsk. Ukraine has rejected this proposal and is seeking Western security guarantees to deter Russia from relaunching its invasion if a ceasefire is reached.

Zelenskyy emphasized the need for Russia to be held accountable for its attack on Ukraine. He also expressed hope that the US would remain involved in the peace negotiations and that European countries would deepen their involvement.

The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The war has also caused widespread destruction, including damage to power plants and residential buildings.

In recent days, there have been reports of increased drone strikes by both sides, resulting in the deaths of several people, including an elderly woman in Odesa and three children in Kharkiv. Russia has reportedly suffered significant losses, with approximately 65,000 soldiers killed over the last two months.

Source: Al Jazeera