Trump puts fate of world’s top conflicts in hands of 2 men

On February 26, 2026, Russia launched missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk, wounding at least eight people. These attacks damaged residential buildings and infrastructure, prompting air defense activation. The strikes occurred before a scheduled meeting in Geneva between Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Geneva meeting is intended to pave the way for a larger negotiation session in early March involving Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington, aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, now in its fifth year. Kyiv hopes these talks will lead to a direct meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

Marking the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine war, President Zelensky stated that Russia's President Putin has failed to achieve his goals in the conflict, including breaking the Ukrainian spirit and winning the war. In a video address, Zelensky highlighted Ukrainian resistance and affirmed Ukraine's commitment to securing a strong and lasting peace. The war, which began on February 24, 2022, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and devastated Ukraine. Despite ongoing talks facilitated by the United States, a resolution remains elusive. Zelensky emphasized that any peace agreement must be accepted by the Ukrainian people to ensure its durability and justice.

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged the bodies of soldiers killed in the ongoing conflict, with Russia handing over the remains of 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine and receiving 35 Russian bodies in return. The exchange follows an agreement reached in Istanbul in June 2025, aiming to return thousands of bodies and prisoners of war. This exchange occurred as Ukrainian negotiators met with US envoys in Geneva to discuss Ukraine's post-war economic reconstruction, and as preparations were underway for a third round of US-led talks involving Russia to end the conflict. While both sides regularly publish estimates of the other's losses, the BBC has confirmed nearly 186,000 Russian deaths, and Russia has returned more bodies to Ukraine than it has received, despite higher estimated Russian casualties.

In February 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. The conversation, which included U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, preceded a meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Geneva. Discussions covered topics for the Geneva meeting, preparations for trilateral talks with Russian officials expected in early March, and a potential prisoner swap. Zelenskyy hopes the upcoming trilateral meeting will facilitate leaders-level talks with Russia to resolve complex issues and end the war. Separately, Russian economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev will also be in Geneva to meet with U.S. negotiators on economic issues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump spoke on Wednesday, agreeing that upcoming trilateral talks with Russia in March should pave the way for a meeting of the countries' leaders. Zelensky stated the goal is to resolve complex issues and end the war. The US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also participated in the phone call. The conversation occurred before a separate meeting between Ukrainian and US negotiators to discuss post-war reconstruction. Zelensky thanked the US for its active involvement in the peace process and for providing missiles for air defense.

In a video address marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Donald Trump to visit Ukraine, specifically Kyiv. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has not been broken and will not betray its people in negotiations with Russia. He emphasized that seeing Ukraine firsthand is crucial to understanding the reality of the war and identifying Russia as the aggressor. Zelenskyy recalled a phone call from President Biden offering to help him leave the country, but he declined. The address included footage from the early days of the invasion and showed Zelenskyy at a memorial for fallen soldiers. Trump has not yet accepted Zelenskyy's invitation to visit.

US President Donald Trump has tasked Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff with resolving the war in Ukraine and the US stand-off with Iran. On Thursday, Kushner and Witkoff met with Iranian officials in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program. They then met separately with Ukrainian and Russian envoys to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Prior to this, the pair participated in the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" regarding the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Trump's reliance on trusted associates for these critical diplomatic missions highlights his preference for a small circle of advisors over traditional government channels. The move underscores the tension in Trump’s diplomatic strategy and raises questions about the capacity of two individuals to manage such complex global issues.

In February 2026, as the Ukraine war enters its fifth year, Moscow believes the 2022 invasion was a necessary gamble, not a failure. Russian political elites view the war as ending on their terms, driven by pragmatic motives, primarily to prevent NATO expansion towards Russia's borders. The conflict allowed security elites to eliminate pro-Western opposition and consolidate power. The decision to invade also stemmed from Ukraine's initial attempts at rapprochement with Russia under President Zelenskyy, which were later abandoned due to internal pressures. Many Russians see the war as a proxy conflict with NATO, benefiting security elites and hawkish Western lobbyists.

In his New Year address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a peace agreement with Russia is "90% ready" after nearly four years of conflict. He emphasized that the remaining 10% is crucial for the future of Ukraine and Europe, while reiterating that Ukraine seeks an end to the war, not the country itself. Simultaneously, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his troops that Russia believes in them and their victory. Moscow also released alleged evidence of Ukraine using drones to target Putin's residence, which Kyiv denies, leading the Kremlin to consider revising its stance on peace negotiations. However, the EU's top diplomat dismissed Russia's claims as a distraction to derail the peace process. Zelensky stressed the need for ratified security guarantees, referencing recent talks with the U.S. regarding a 15-year security agreement.

In his annual New Year's Eve address, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia believes it will win the war in Ukraine. The speech, delivered on December 31, 2025, marked 26 years since he assumed the presidency. Putin called on Russians to support the troops engaged in the ongoing offensive, which began in February 2022. He expressed confidence in victory despite the ongoing conflict and peace negotiations. The address also referenced Putin's reshaping of Russia, his positive views on Josef Stalin, and his efforts to restore Russia's standing after the Soviet Union's dissolution. The speech comes amid fears in Europe that the Kremlin’s Ukraine war could spillover into its borders if it doesn’t end soon.

On December 28, 2025, day 1,403 of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine using nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles, killing at least two people in Kyiv and the surrounding region and wounding 46 others. The strikes targeted energy and civilian infrastructure, causing widespread power outages and heating disruptions in Kyiv. As a result, Poland temporarily closed two airports due to the strikes. Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have intercepted 11 drones near Moscow, leading to temporary airspace restrictions at two airports. Russia also reported intercepting over 100 Ukrainian drones across six regions and claimed its forces captured five towns in the Donetsk region. The attacks occurred as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was en route to meet with U.S. President Trump to discuss a plan to end the nearly four-year war.

In his annual New Year's Eve address, Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly acknowledged the fighting in Ukraine, emphasizing soldiers' roles in fighting for their land and expressing confidence in achieving victory. The speech, delivered in Moscow, was notably shorter and less focused on the war compared to the previous year. Putin conveyed a message of unity and hope for a better future for Russia. Despite growing public sentiment in favor of peace negotiations, Putin did not mention any peace talks with the U.S. or President Trump's peacemaking efforts. Polls indicate that a majority of Russians now favor ending the conflict, but Putin has shown little willingness to compromise in negotiations.