No Breakthrough Yet for Russia, Ukraine02/18 06:16

   The latest U.S.-brokered talks between Russian and Ukrainian envoys over 
Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine ended Wednesday with no sign of a 
breakthrough and with both sides saying the talks were "difficult" as the war's 
fourth anniversary approaches next week.

   GENEVA (AP) -- The latest U.S.-brokered talks between Russian and Ukrainian 
envoys over Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine ended Wednesday with no sign 
of a breakthrough and with both sides saying the talks were "difficult" as the 
war's fourth anniversary approaches next week.

   The negotiations in Switzerland were the third round of direct talks 
organized by the U.S., after meetings earlier this year in Abu Dhabi that 
officials described as constructive but which also yielded no major progress.

   The head of the Russian delegation, Russian President Vladimir Putin's 
adviser Vladimir Medinsky, told reporters that the two days of talks in Geneva 
"were difficult but businesslike." He said another round of talks will be held 
"in the near future."

   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also described the discussions as 
"difficult," and accused Russia of "trying to drag out negotiations that could 
already have reached the final stage."

   U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on social media 
that Washington's push for peace in Ukraine over the past year has "brought 
about meaningful progress," without elaborating.

   The two armies remain locked in battle on the roughly 1,250-kilometer 
(750-mile) front line, while Russia bombards civilian areas of Ukraine daily.

   Hours after the first day of talks ended on Tuesday, Russian drones killed a 
woman and injured a 6-year-old girl and 18-month-old toddler in the southern 
Ukraine city of Zaporizhzhia, officials said.

   Overnight, Russia launched one ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones 
at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force.

   Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it's "too early" to 
speak about the outcome. Putin has been receiving reports about the talks' 
progress, he said.

   The head of the Ukrainian delegation in Switzerland, Rustem Umerov, said 
that officials are trying to bridge their political and military differences.

   "Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the 
political and military tracks," the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem 
Umerov, wrote in English on X. "We are working on clarifying the parameters and 
mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday."

   Zelenskyy said the delegations also were to discuss further exchanges of 
prisoners of war and the release of civilian prisoners.

   He revealed that the Ukrainian and American envoys in Geneva met with 
representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and 
Switzerland. Europe's participation in the process is "indispensable," 
Zelenskyy said.

   European leaders, mindful of Putin's wider ambitions, say their own security 
is at stake in Ukraine and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

   Russia and Ukraine appear to still be far apart on their demands for a 
settlement.

   Zelenskyy has offered a ceasefire and a face-to-face meeting with Putin. But 
Moscow wants a comprehensive agreement before committing to a truce.

   Putin's key goals remain what he declared when Russia invaded its neighbor 
on Feb. 24, 2022: Ukraine must renounce joining NATO, sharply reduce the size 
of its army and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in 
Moscow's orbit.

   Additionally, Putin wants Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the four regions 
Moscow has occupied but doesn't fully control.

   Zelenskyy says Ukraine won't surrender land to Russia.