- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Russia and Ukraine Hold US-Brokered Talks in Geneva
Delegations meet for two days of negotiations as fourth anniversary of invasion nears
Feb. 19, 2026 at 7:15am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
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. Expectations for breakthroughs were low, with neither side apparently ready to budge on key territorial issues and future security guarantees. The talks included military chiefs discussing ceasefire monitoring and implementation.
Why it matters
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has had devastating humanitarian consequences, with civilians enduring relentless Russian aerial attacks. The future of the nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia is a central issue in the talks, which aim to find a path to end the devastating war.
The details
The Ukrainian delegation was led by Rustem Umerov, while the Russian side was represented by Vladimir Medinsky, a top Putin adviser. U.S. officials, including President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, also participated in the talks. Discussions focused on security and humanitarian issues, with the military chiefs present to discuss ceasefire monitoring and implementation.
- The talks took place on February 17, 2026, a week before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- Previous talks between the parties were held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The players
Rustem Umerov
The head of the Ukrainian delegation in the Geneva talks.
Vladimir Medinsky
A top adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Russian delegation in the talks.
Steve Witkoff
The U.S. President's envoy who participated in the Geneva talks.
Jared Kushner
The U.S. President's son-in-law who participated in the Geneva talks.
Gen. Alexus Grynkewich
The commander of the U.S. military and NATO forces in Europe who attended the meeting in Geneva.
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
What’s next
The talks are scheduled to continue on Wednesday, with military leaders also discussing ceasefire monitoring and implementation. The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The ongoing negotiations in Geneva highlight the complexity of ending the devastating conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides maintaining firm positions on key territorial and security issues. The talks, brokered by the United States, aim to find a path forward, but the relentless Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians underscore the challenges in reaching a lasting peace agreement.
