Russia and Ukraine to hold more talks in Geneva next week
Al Jazeera
February 13, 2026
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Russian and Ukrainian officials are set to hold another round of US-brokered peace talks in Geneva next week as the war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year with no significant territorial compromises on the horizon. The discussions, scheduled for February 17-18, follow two earlier rounds in Abu Dhabi that focused primarily on military issues such as buffer zones and ceasefire monitoring. Both sides remain far apart on key issues, particularly over the future of Donbas, Ukraine's industrial heartland. Russia is pushing for Ukraine to withdraw from a portion of the eastern Donetsk region it still controls, while Ukraine insists on Western security guarantees before considering any concessions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the new round of talks and revealed that US President Donald Trump has given both sides until June to reach a deal. However, previous deadlines have not yielded progress, with fighting continuing along the 1,250-kilometer front line. Russia is maintaining its assault on Ukraine's power grid, while Kyiv has launched long-range attacks on oil refineries and other war-related targets. The talks will feature high-profile delegations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin's adviser, Vladimir Medinsky, and Rustem Umerov from Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council.
The upcoming discussions come amid ongoing military actions, with Russia continuing its airstrikes and missile attacks across eastern Ukraine and southern regions. In Odesa, a strike on the port and energy infrastructure killed one person and injured six others. Meanwhile, drone debris from a Ukrainian attack injured three people in Volgograd, including a 12-year-old boy, and a missile strike in Belgorod left two dead and three wounded. Despite these efforts to disrupt peace talks, both sides appear eager to avoid direct confrontation with each other's forces.
The Geneva talks are seen as a critical opportunity to address the escalating conflict and prevent further escalation. While US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been leading the negotiations, European leaders are also weighing in on potential pathways to peace. At the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/13/2026