Photo: t.me/umerov_rustem
Ukraine’s delegation managed to withstand pressure from the Russian side, making progress on procedural issues within the military working group, while Moscow’s ключова вимога remains unchanged — the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the entire Donetsk region.
According to a source, the military subgroup is close to finalizing its work, whereas the political track is currently stalled. The implementation of military agreements will depend on decisions made at the political level, meaning a leaders’ meeting is likely needed. Russian representatives plan to present proposals to Vladimir Putin, as they lack authority to approve them independently.
The source added that Vladimir Medinsky again referred to the 2022 Istanbul negotiations, suggesting a return to those terms, though the Ukrainian side succeeded in steering the discussion back toward a more constructive direction. He also reportedly delivered his usual “history lectures,” including references to medieval dynasties.
The reshuffling of Russia’s delegation leadership and the presence of a Foreign Ministry representative reportedly shifted Moscow’s focus back to political demands, particularly troop withdrawal from Donetsk region. This may indicate either an attempt to prolong talks or to push more ultimatum-style conditions.
Both sides agreed to continue negotiations, with the next round possibly scheduled within one to two weeks, though no date or venue has been officially announced. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Geneva talks could have reached a final stage already, but accused Russia of deliberately slowing the process.
