Russia Left ‘In the Dark’ As US, Ukraine and Europe Push Ahead With Geneva Peace Talks

Russia on Monday (November 24, 2025) said it had received no formal briefing on the outcome of high-level talks in Geneva, where Ukrainian, American, and European officials met to refine US President Donald Trump’s proposed 28-point peace plan aimed at ending nearly four years of war in Europe.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow had “not received any information” about the discussions, though he acknowledged that Russia was aware of unspecified “adjustments” to the US roadmap, a proposal that Moscow has previously described as “constructive.”

How did Ukraine’s Kharkiv come under attack?

The absence of clarity for Russia came as the war’s brutality was once again underscored by a deadly overnight strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

Local authorities said four people were killed and 17 others injured, including two children, after Russian forces launched a barrage across three districts: Shevchenkivskyi, Saltivskyi, and Kholodnohirskyi.

Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov described widespread destruction across residential areas and public infrastructure.

How did Kyiv react to the peace plan talks?

Even as Moscow escalated its attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the Geneva consultations with Washington as “important steps” toward a viable peace agreement.

Speaking via video link at a press conference in Sweden, Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the US had managed to safeguard highly sensitive issues during the negotiations.

Among the priority items that Zelenskyy highlighted were:

• The full release of Ukrainian prisoners of war under an all-for-all exchange formula
• The return of civilians detained by Russia
• The repatriation of Ukrainian children taken to Russian territory

“These are important steps, but to achieve real peace, more is needed,” he said.

Why are the Geneva talks significant to peace?

The Geneva talks unfolded amid tense diplomatic dynamics between Kyiv and Washington. President Trump has repeatedly accused Zelensky of “ingratitude,” while Ukrainian officials have criticised aspects of the US peace plan, calling them overly accommodating to Moscow’s long-standing demands.

Despite this friction, a joint US–Ukraine statement issued after the meeting described the talks as “highly productive,” emphasising that any final agreement must uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and ensure a durable and just peace.

Negotiators also confirmed that an updated and refined peace framework had been drafted, with both sides set to continue intensive consultations in the coming days.