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Russian and Ukrainian Officials Meet in Geneva for US-Brokered Talks
Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv meet for another round of peace negotiations as the war in Ukraine nears its 4-year mark.
Feb. 18, 2026 at 1:31pm
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Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Geneva on Tuesday for another round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, a week before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor. However, expectations for any breakthroughs in the scheduled two days of talks in Switzerland were low, with neither side apparently ready to budge from its positions on key territorial issues and future security guarantees.
Why it matters
The talks in Geneva come as the war in Ukraine has dragged on for nearly four years, with Russia still occupying significant portions of Ukrainian territory. Any progress towards a negotiated settlement could help end the devastating conflict and provide a path forward for Ukraine's security and territorial integrity.
The details
The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, posted photos on social media showing the three delegations at a horseshoe-shaped table, with the Ukrainian and Russian officials sitting across from each other. U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner sat at the head of the table. The agenda includes security and humanitarian issues, and discussions on the future of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory are expected to be particularly tough, with Russia still insisting that Ukraine cede control of the eastern Donbas region.
- The talks in Geneva took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
- The talks are scheduled to continue on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
The players
Rustem Umerov
The head of the Ukrainian delegation in the Geneva talks.
Steve Witkoff
The U.S. President's envoy participating in the Geneva talks.
Jared Kushner
The U.S. President's son-in-law participating in the Geneva talks.
Vladimir Medinsky
The head of the Russian delegation in the Geneva talks, and a key negotiator for Moscow in previous peace talks with Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The President of Ukraine, who has committed to and taken part in the negotiations in the hope of ending Russia's devastating onslaught.
What they’re saying
“The agenda includes security and humanitarian issues.”
— Rustem Umerov, Head of the Ukrainian delegation
“Ukraine better come to the table fast.”
— Donald Trump
“The more this evil comes from Russia, the harder it will be for everyone to reach any agreements with them. Partners must understand this. First and foremost, this concerns the United States.”
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The Geneva talks represent a critical opportunity to make progress towards a negotiated settlement to the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, but the deep divisions between the parties and the ongoing fighting suggest that significant obstacles remain to achieving a lasting peace.
