US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he hopes Ukraine will quickly reach an agreement with Russia ahead of Washington-brokered negotiations in Geneva, as both sides remain far apart on territorial concessions and the prospects for a breakthrough. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Why the Kremlin reinstated Medinsky as lead negotiator for Geneva talks
For the talks in Geneva, the Kremlin has reinstated nationalist hawk and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky as its lead negotiator.
“This time, we plan to discuss a broader set of issues, focusing on key ones related to the territories and other demands,” a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin told reporters, explaining the personnel change.
Trump says Ukraine must move ‘fast’ to sign peace deal
“Ukraine better come to the table, fast,” US President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Washington.
Zelensky claims necessity of ‘sufficient pressure on Russia’
“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,” Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media Monday.
“Only with sufficient pressure on Russia and clear security guarantees for Ukraine can this war realistically be brought to an end,” he added.
Yesterday’s key developments:
US President Donald Trump said Monday that “Ukraine better come to the table, fast,” when it comes to reaching a peace deal with Russia.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will meet with former Russian culture minister Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security Council, on Tuesday in Geneva.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that Trump was “deeply committed” to the success of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of Europe’s biggest critics of Ukraine and a Russian ally.
