As Ukraine enters its 33rd month defending against Russia’s full-scale invasion,the country faces a precarious moment on both the battlefield and the diplomatic front. Negotiations are underway in Geneva as Ukrainian forces contend with renewed Russian offensives and a brutal winter campaign targeting critical infrastructure [3]. Adding further complexity, a controversial peace proposal from former U.S. President Donald Trump-demanding significant territorial concessions-has been met with widespread opposition within Ukraine, even as discussions continue and a corruption scandal casts a shadow over President Zelenskyy’s government.
KYIV, Ukraine – The Ukrainian capital holds its breath as negotiations unfold in Geneva, 1,800 kilometers away, amid a critical juncture in the nearly 33-month-long conflict with Russia. The situation is particularly fraught as Ukrainian forces struggle to contain renewed Russian advances, the population endures frequent power outages, and air raid sirens have become a constant backdrop to daily life. The ongoing war in Ukraine remains a pivotal moment for European security and international diplomacy.
Support for a 28-point plan proposed by Donald Trump is scarce in Kyiv. The former U.S. president set a deadline of Thursday for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to respond, outlining proposals that include ceding territory, reducing the size of Ukraine’s armed forces, and abandoning aspirations to join NATO. Both civilians and soldiers view these conditions as tantamount to surrender to Vladimir Putin.
The shifting rhetoric from Trump – who recently imposed sanctions on the Kremlin and indicated openness to supplying Tomahawk missiles, only to later accuse Russia of being ungrateful – is adding to the anxiety in a country already under immense stress.
No one wants the sacrifices made during what has become the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II to have been in vain. A curfew remains in effect in the capital from midnight to 5 a.m., and air raid sirens have sounded 1,926 times since the start of the war, according to a widely-used alert app. The most recent siren went off just two days ago.
In a corner of Maidan Square, the site of the 2013 pro-European revolution, a growing memorial displays photos, flowers, and flags honoring fallen soldiers. The faces of the young men – some barely 20 years old – serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the war, beyond the statistics.
Hanna, a 61-year-old English teacher, sheltering from the rain under the awning of a croissant shop, expressed satisfaction with President Zelenskyy’s leadership but dismissed Trump’s plan as “a capitulation.”
“Do you want to know what I think of his deal? Do you remember the slogan that emerged early in the war from Ukrainian guards to a Russian warship that asked them to surrender? Go fuck yourself,” she said fluently in English.
Ivan, 32, is taking a coffee at a McDonald’s under the rain. He works for the military, creating videos to boost the morale of Ukrainians living in Russian-occupied territories. “This peace deal will only bring more chaos, and Putin won’t stop,” he believes.
Mykhailo, approximately 53 years old, walks with his son through Schevchenko Park. While expressing dissatisfaction with the current situation and the government, he explained he cannot leave the country due to family and his textile business employing 50 people. Nevertheless, he does not support the 28-point peace plan.
“The only ones who can decide when to end the war are the soldiers. They are the ones risking their lives in the east; I can only contribute a little from here,” he explained.
Reports emerging Sunday from Geneva suggested potential progress in the talks. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, currently facing scrutiny amid corruption allegations, stated that “good progress” had been made following a meeting with Marco Rubio.
According to Bloomberg, Kyiv is seeking security guarantees from its European allies similar to NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, and the use of frozen Russian assets to fund the country’s reconstruction. However, time is running out for Ukraine.
The country’s power and gas plants have become prime targets for Putin, aiming to undermine the population’s morale as winter approaches. Inherited from the Soviet era, Kyiv has a centralized heating system, meaning outages affect everyone. After more than three years, some residents have begun installing generators, and all have downloaded an app from the energy company that provides schedules for planned power cuts. Most days offer no more than three hours of electricity, with some experiencing up to 18 hours in darkness.
“We have to organize ourselves to see when to cook, when to do laundry, when to watch television. To work, too, we have to keep moving from place to place every two or three hours to get light,” said Veronika at a restaurant in a square where a children’s playground was hit by a bombing. But she remains resilient. “We’re getting used to living like this. It always seems like we won’t be able to get through the winter, but in the end, we always do.”
The past year has been the most heavily bombarded for Kyiv, with the worst attack occurring just weeks ago. The situation in eastern Ukraine, along the front lines, is also concerning.
In recent weeks, Russia has made several advances, capturing more than 15 villages in the Zaporizhzhia region since September, taking advantage of the weather and a shortage of Ukrainian troops. The strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk has also been partially seized by Russian forces. Ukrainian commanders say they lack sufficient soldiers to prevent the incursions.
Ukraine reportedly struck a Russian power plant in the Moscow area on Sunday, raising fears that the recent lull in attacks on Kyiv – seen by some as a possible pause during negotiations – could be broken.
The political landscape is also complicated. Ukrainians continue to support Zelenskyy’s leadership and believe that holding elections within 100 days, as proposed by Trump, would only create instability, a scenario the Kremlin would likely exploit. A key objective for Putin is to engineer a change in government to reinstall a pro-Russian regime.
The Kyiv government is currently facing pressure from a corruption scandal involving ministers and their associates. Zelenskyy is facing what many believe is the most difficult crossroads of his presidency. When asked what they would do in his place, few Ukrainians are willing to answer.
”When Zelensky is cornered, he tends to go on the offensive,” Viktor Shlinchak, director of the Institute of World Policy, a research analytical group, told The New York Times.
The clock is ticking for Zelenskyy and all of Ukraine. The app notification indicates the curfew will begin in 30 minutes. It’s time to return to a safe place.
