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Geneva Peace Talks Between Ukraine and Russia End Without Breakthrough
Two days of Geneva talks between Ukraine and Russia end without progress. Zelenskiy accuses Moscow of stalling, while Kyiv rejects any deal requiring loss of territory. No date set for next U.S.-mediated talks.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-18
Geneva Peace Talks Between Ukraine and Russia End Without Breakthrough

Two days of U.S.-mediated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia concluded on Wednesday without a breakthrough, with Volodymyr Zelenskiy accusing Moscow of deliberately stalling efforts to resolve the four-year conflict.

The negotiations, held at a hotel in Geneva under the mediation of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and former U.S. presidential advisor Jared Kushner, focused on the fate of eastern Ukrainian territories and the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility.

Zelenskiy called the talks “difficult” and said Russia was attempting to prolong negotiations that could already have reached a final stage. Moments after his statement, the delegations adjourned without scheduling a follow-up meeting.

Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s chief negotiator, described the talks as “difficult, but business-like,” while Ukrainian officials criticized him for offering historical lectures instead of substantive solutions.

Key Points of Contention

  • Eastern Territories: Moscow demands Kyiv cede about 20% of Donetsk, areas not yet under Russian control — a proposal Ukraine has firmly rejected.
  • Zaporizhzhia Plant: Kyiv insists on U.S. and Ukrainian oversight of the nuclear facility, which Russia has opposed.
  • Security Guarantees: Ukraine seeks strong U.S.-backed assurances to prevent future attacks in case a deal is signed.

Pressure from the U.S.

The talks took place amid heightened pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly urged Ukraine to reach an agreement quickly, potentially requiring painful concessions. Zelenskiy said it was unfair that the U.S. leader emphasized Ukraine’s concessions but did not hold Russia accountable.

U.S. military officials, including Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and Brigadier General Michael Adamski, also participated in three-way security discussions aimed at supporting a peace framework.

Previous and Ongoing Efforts

This Geneva meeting follows two rounds of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, which likewise failed to produce a deal. Delegations from France, Germany, Britain, and other European nations were briefed but did not participate directly.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, more than hundreds of thousands have been killed, millions displaced, and Ukrainian cities heavily damaged. Analysts note that Russian forces have gained only 1.5% of Ukrainian territory since early 2024, despite continued airstrikes on energy infrastructure, leaving many Ukrainians without heat or power during a severe winter.

Zelenskiy emphasized that any deal requiring Ukraine to cede territory that remains under Kyiv’s control would be subject to a referendum and likely rejected.

As the Geneva talks adjourned without progress, hopes for a near-term resolution to Europe’s largest conflict since World War II remain uncertain, with international observers warning that both sides must address humanitarian and territorial issues before meaningful progress can occur.
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Russia

Ukraine

PeaceProcess

GenevaTalks
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