Diplomats in Geneva get the same coffee as at Liepāja's 'Fontaine Palace' café - expensive and weird

Three-way talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia have concluded in Geneva, and as always, the result is the same as after any serious negotiations — everyone goes home thinking "we'll continue tomorrow."

Italian journalists are anxiously reporting that security advisors from Britain, France, Germany and Italy have even arrived in Geneva. Well yes, when there's nothing to do, you travel to Switzerland to watch others work. Here in Liepāja, we call this the "Rose Square effect" — everyone gathers, everyone wants to participate, but in reality they just watch.

Local pensioner Jānis from Karosta comments: "I used to do that too — when neighbors argued about the fence, I sat on a bench and supervised. In the end they agreed that I was in the way." It's exactly the same principle here — the more observers, the harder it is to agree.

Meanwhile in Liepāja today it's +2 degrees, and local diplomats aka traders at the Central Market have long solved all disagreements about potato prices without international observers. As our tram driver Gunārs says: "If in Riga diplomacy means talking loudly and nothing works out, then in Liepāja it means quietly agreeing and going home."

It's expected that tomorrow all delegations will meet again to announce that "progress has been made, but work continues." Just like at our cultural center — they always promise that next year will be better.