Russia-Ukraine talks: All the mediation efforts, and where they stand

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Yashraj SharmaFebruary 18, 2026 at 03:55 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

As the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its fifth year in February 2026, numerous mediation attempts have failed to achieve a breakthrough. The latest US-led peace talks in Geneva, mediated by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, concluded without progress. These talks follow earlier unsuccessful efforts, including direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Belarus in early 2022 and regional talks in Antalya and Istanbul in March-April 2022. Despite a promise by US President Trump to broker a ceasefire, the conflict continues, with over a million casualties. The discovery of massacres in Bucha and Irpin further complicated negotiations.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sergey Lavrov 40% Dmytro Kuleba 40% Geneva 40% Belarus 40% Moscow 50% Steve Witkoff 50% Jared Kushner 50% United States 60% Donald Trump ×370% Volodymyr Zelenskyy ×270% Russia ×590% Ukraine ×990%

Keywords

russia-ukraine war 100% peace talks 90% mediation efforts 80% ceasefire 70% full-scale invasion 60% donald trump 50% negotiations 50% volodymyr zelenskyy 40%