US special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that discussions between Ukraine and Russia had led to “meaningful progress” toward ending the war, as both delegations prepared to continue a second day of negotiations in Geneva on Wednesday.

Despite this, expectations for a major breakthrough remain limited. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued that it was “not fair” for US President Donald Trump to repeatedly press Kyiv to make concessions, warning that “peace cannot be achieved by handing victory to Russia.”

President Trump has recently indicated that the responsibility for ensuring the success of the talks in Switzerland lies largely with Ukraine, without directly referencing Moscow’s role.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has maintained its firm stance, continuing to press its sweeping territorial demands regarding Ukraine.

“President Trump’s leadership in bringing both parties to the table has generated meaningful progress, and we are honored to support his efforts to end the bloodshed in this devastating conflict,” Witkoff wrote on social media following the first day of negotiations.

Zelensky has consistently maintained that Ukraine is being urged to make far greater concessions than Russia.

Currently, Russia controls around 20% of Ukrainian territory, including significant areas of the eastern Donbas region. Moscow is seeking control of the remainder of that region, a proposal Kyiv has firmly rejected.

Ukraine insists that any peace agreement must be preceded by strong security guarantees from Western allies, including the United States.

Speaking to a US news outlet on Tuesday, Zelensky reiterated that it was “not fair” for Trump to continually call on Ukraine to secure a deal, adding, “I hope this is only a negotiating tactic and not a final decision.”

In a statement shared on social media later that evening, Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said the first day of talks concentrated on “practical matters and the framework of potential solutions.”

In a video message released soon after, Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine was prepared to pause strikes, in line with a proposal presented by the United States to both Kyiv and Moscow.

“We do not want war,” he said, emphasizing that Ukrainians are “defending our country and our independence.”

“We are ready to move swiftly toward a fair agreement to end the war. The only question is what the Russians are seeking,” he added.

This round marks the third set of trilateral negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict.

According to Russia’s state news agency, a source described Tuesday’s six-hour session as tense, noting that discussions were held in both bilateral and trilateral formats.

The negotiations are being facilitated by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.

Representing Russia, Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, is serving as the chief negotiator.

The talks are taking place just one week before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s defence ministry reported that 43 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across several Russian regions and in Crimea.

Ukraine’s air force, in turn, said that Russia launched 126 attack drones overnight, adding that preliminary information indicated 100 were shot down before reaching their intended targets.