Ukraine, US, Russia Fail to Reach Agreement in Latest Trilateral Talks

New round of negotiations to be held soon as parties remain divided on key issues

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The latest round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia ended on Wednesday without any breakthroughs on key issues related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that no agreement was reached, as the negotiations were difficult but business-like. A new round of talks is expected to be held in the near future as the parties work to reach the required level of consensus for consideration by the presidents.

Why it matters

The failure to reach an agreement in these latest talks highlights the continued challenges in resolving the protracted conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has now entered its fourth year. The inability to make progress on issues like a ceasefire monitoring mechanism and the status of the Donbas region and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant underscores the deep divisions between the parties and the complexity of the negotiations.

The details

The two-day talks, marking the third round of trilateral discussions this year, lasted a total of eight hours over the two days. Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said there was progress but no details were available at this stage. Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky described the talks as difficult but business-like, noting that a new round will be held soon. No documents were signed during the latest round of negotiations.

  • The latest round of trilateral talks took place on February 17-18, 2026.
  • The talks came just days before the fourth anniversary of the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in 2022.

The players

Volodymyr Zelensky

The President of Ukraine who stated that no agreement was reached during the latest round of talks.

Rustem Umerov

Ukraine's chief negotiator and National Security and Defense Council Secretary, who said there was progress but no details available.

Vladimir Medinsky

The Russian presidential aide who described the talks as difficult but business-like.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska in August 2025, which the Russian delegation said they were acting within the framework of.

Vladimir Putin

The President of Russia who met with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska in August 2025.

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What they’re saying

“We can see that some groundwork has been done, but for now, positions differ because the negotiations were not easy.”

— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine (WhatsApp chat)

“There is progress, but no details at this stage.”

— Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's chief negotiator and National Security and Defense Council Secretary (Facebook post)

“The Ukraine-Russia conflict is exhausting all parties concerned and draining both Russian and European human and material resources, with no end in sight.”

— Nasser Saidi, Founder and president of Nasser Saidi & Associates (Xinhua)

What’s next

A new round of negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia will be held in the near future as the parties work to reach the required level of consensus for consideration by the presidents.

The takeaway

The failure to reach an agreement in these latest trilateral talks underscores the deep divisions and complexities involved in resolving the protracted conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Despite some progress, the parties remain far apart on key issues, highlighting the challenges in achieving a just and sustainable peace.