Despite the Ukraine talks in Geneva, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andriy Melnyk, believes that Russia is unlikely to embrace a peace settlement in the foreseeable future.
He told newspapers of the Funke Media Group, “I am personally very skeptical. I see no genuine willingness on the Kremlin’s part to negotiate a viable agreement”. He warned that talks without a cease‑fire could drag on indefinitely while “the daily horror against Ukraine continues”. Melnyk, who served as ambassador in Germany at the onset of the full Russian invasion four years ago, added that the daily suffering shows no signs of abating.
On Wednesday, the two‑day Ukraine-Russia talks, mediated by the United States, were slated to continue in Geneva after earlier sessions in Abu Dhabi yielded no tangible results. A key sticking point remains the possibility of Ukraine ceding territory.
Just before the Geneva meeting began, Melnyk said, “Russia uses the negotiations mainly to stay in the geopolitical game and avoid angering the U.S”. He noted small gains such as prisoner exchanges, which offer a glimmer of hope for families. However, he concluded that “a political breakthrough that would lead to an enduring, acceptable settlement for all parties remains out of sight”.