Russia and Ukraine held high-stakes negotiations in Geneva, but the second-day meeting ended after roughly two hours without a breakthrough. Moscow described the talks as difficult and businesslike, while Kyiv accused Russia of delaying progress and rejected any territorial concessions. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has escalated his rhetoric once again, vowing that Russia will seize full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region “by any means necessary.” His comments come as U.S. envoys meet with Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian officials head to Washington for new peace talks aimed at ending the war.