In Geneva on February 17–18, 2026, a meeting took place between the delegations of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. According to participants, they discussed both technical aspects after the cessation of hostilities and the political prospects for peace. However, the main disagreement remained – how to anchor peace at the political level.
The meeting took place at the renowned InterContinental Geneva hotel. Access to the negotiating room and the lobby was strictly regulated; the press had little access to the events, and official statements appeared under strict rules.
The delegations were divided into two subgroups: political and military. In the political track, discussions focused on the terms of a ceasefire, the possible configuration of the Donbas borders, and security guarantees. In the military bloc, practical steps were considered: disengagement of forces, monitoring mechanisms, and verification of violations.
Key topics and positions of the sides
In the continuation of the discussions, the main differences between the tracks were voiced: politics progressed more slowly in negotiations, while the military aspect moved more quickly toward concrete actions. According to participants, without prior technical agreements, difficulties could arise after the peace is declared, so synchronized progress of both tracks is important.
I haven’t heard progress like this in the military bloc
– Volodymyr Zelensky
On security guarantees and Europe’s role in the new system, Kyiv seeks a more active involvement of European countries in the post-conflict order. Sources from the negotiation process point to the possibility of signing guarantees at the same time as the general peace treaty on the part of the United States, though Washington’s final positions on this issue remain under discussion.
As for Russia’s territorial demands and Ukraine’s positions, tensions remain: Moscow insists on transferring certain lands under Russian control, while Kyiv defends control over its territories and security guarantees. The status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the prospects for its control in the event of a possible truce were also touched upon.
After the official part of the negotiations, talks continued informally: Ukrainian and Russian observers discussed political issues for about two hours between Rustem Umerov and David Arakhamia. Upon the meeting’s conclusion, journalists received a few brief comments, and the participants appeared in the hotel lobby during breaks.
Summing up the round’s results, Zelensky noted that there is progress, yet the sides’ positions remain different; negotiations will continue, with a possible new round planned in Switzerland.