Ukrainian and Russian envoys hold a second day of US-brokered talks in
Geneva
[February 18, 2026]
By JAMEY KEATEN and
ILLIA NOVIKOV
GENEVA (AP)
— Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv met Wednesday in Geneva for a second
consecutive day of U.S.-brokered talks, with officials trying to bridge
political and military differences stemming from Russia’s all-out
invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago.
“Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the
political and military tracks,” the head of the Ukrainian delegation,
Rustem Umerov, wrote in English on X. “We are working on clarifying the
parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday.” |
In this photo provided by Ukraine's 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate
Mechanized Brigade press service, soldiers are at a pickup before
assignments on the frontline near Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region,
Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (Iryna Rybakova/Ukraine's 93rd
Mechanized Brigade via AP)
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The negotiations in Switzerland are the third round of direct
talks organized by the U.S., after meetings earlier this year in
Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but yielded
no breakthrough.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on
social media that Washington’s push for peace in Ukraine over
the past year has “brought about meaningful progress.” He didn’t
elaborate, and the fighting has continued.
The two armies are locked in battle on the roughly
1,250-kilometer (750-mile) front line, while Russia bombards
civilian areas of Ukraine. Overnight, Russia launched one
ballistic missile and 126 long-range drones at Ukraine, the
Ukrainian air force said.
A Russian drone strike in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia
killed a woman and injured seven people, including two small
children, according to regional military administration chief
Ivan Fedorov.
Russia and Ukraine appear to still be far apart on their demands
for a peace settlement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered a ceasefire
and a face-to-face meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
But Moscow wants a comprehensive agreement before committing to
a truce.
Putin’s key goals remain what he declared when Russia invaded
its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022: Ukraine must renounce joining
NATO, sharply reduce the size of its army and protect Russian
language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.
Additionally, Putin wants Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the
four regions Moscow has occupied but doesn’t fully control.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine won't surrender land to Russia.
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Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.
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