Ukraine and Russia Hold New Round of Peace Talks, but Expectations Are Low

New York Times - WorldEN 4 min read 100% complete by Constant MéheutFebruary 17, 2026 at 06:01 AM

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Ukrainian and Russian officials met in Switzerland on Tuesday for U.S.-brokered peace talks, the third such meeting in recent weeks. Expectations for a breakthrough were low, as previous discussions in the United Arab Emirates yielded minimal progress beyond a prisoner exchange. The core issues of contention remain unresolved, including the status of Ukrainian territory in the east, which Russia seeks to control, and Western security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky has warned against ceding territory and urged progress on security guarantees. The U.S. delegation is led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Russia is represented by Vladimir Medinsky, among others. The talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Geneva, also include separate negotiations focused on Iran.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Rustem Umerov 30% Geneva 30% Kyrylo Budanov 30% Steve Witkoff 40% United Arab Emirates 40% Jared Kushner 40% Vladimir Medinsky ×240% Switzerland 50% Volodymyr Zelensky ×260% United States ×270% Russia ×890% Ukraine ×1090%

Keywords

peace talks 100% ukraine 90% russia 90% negotiations 80% security guarantees 70% territory 70% war 60% prisoner-of-war exchange 50% u.s.-brokered 50% eastern territories 40%