Feb 21, 2026
3 min read
Without compromise, the war, which will enter its fourth year next week, is expected to continue.
The war, which enters its fourth year next week, is expected to continue without compromise.
GENEVA, Tuesday - Ukraine-Russia peace talks were resumed with the mediation of the United States.The talks lasted only 2 hours without the participation of the main negotiator from the USA.
The second day of talks in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday (18/02/2026) local time or Thursday Indonesian time ended without results.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who did not attend the meeting, admitted that the negotiations were difficult."The negotiations were not easy," Zelensky said after the negotiations.
He said that the talks were only on technical issues, one of which was how to monitor the ceasefire.But the political and law and order issues have not been resolved yet.The main problem is the part of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine that is still under Ukrainian control.Moscow has demanded recognition of the territory as a condition for an end to the war.Kiev refused.
In a video speech, Zelenskiy expressed his displeasure.
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, also described the talks as difficult."Difficult talks, but still like trade talks," he told Russian media.
According to Ukraine's top negotiator Rustam Umerov, Medinsky was still talking to Ukraine nearly two hours after the session officially ended.
Without any settlement, the war, which will enter its fourth year next week, is expected to continue.The war in Ukraine broke out on February 22, 2022. The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people, forced millions of civilians to flee, and destroyed cities, towns, and villages in Ukraine.Russia denies that it deliberately targeted civilians.
The statements by both sides contrast with the previous two rounds of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, held in early February.Conversations are said to be constructive and productive.The discussion in Abu Dhabi focused more on technical issues, which were considered a dream. Mechanisms for monitoring the ceasefire and the exchange of prisoners of war.
On the other hand, from the beginning it was expected to be canceled this week.This is because difficult regional issues were discussed during the negotiations.He also participated in the negotiations, which are known to be difficult without the presence of the CEO of the United States.
Kyiv believes that the return of Medinsky to lead the Russian delegation shows that Moscow was not ready to give in from the very beginning.
We can say that Russia is trying to delay the negotiations that should reach the final stage.
Medinsky is seen as a tough and ultra-conservative figure who is unpopular in Ukraine.Medinsky did not attend the talks in Abu Dhabi.
Additionally, US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were not present.Both are top U.S. negotiators who typically participate in negotiations considered important to the United States.
The absence of the two main American negotiators was confirmed by a US official and a Ukrainian official, who wished to remain anonymous.Other American negotiators were also present at the closed meeting.
The demands of Russia and Ukraine are the same.Russia has demanded that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory that Kiev still controls in the Donetsk region.Ukraine currently controls 20 percent of the eastern Donetsk region that is not occupied by Russian forces.
Wilayah yang diminta Rusia berupa jalur teritori sepanjang 80,5 kilometer dan selebar 64,5 kilometer. Wilayah ini mencakup puluhan kota dan desa, serta berada di antara garis depan pertempuran.
Kiev has always refused these demands.Ukraine has also opposed the withdrawal of troops from the region.Kiev believes that the transfer of territory will encourage Russia to expand its attacks.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is asking its Western allies, especially the United States, for security guarantees that would prevent Moscow from violating the ceasefire agreement or attacking again.
Zelensky said that in addition to the territories occupied by Russia, the most difficult issue is the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) controlled by Moscow.Ukraine wants Europe's largest nuclear power plant to be run by the United States and Ukraine.Russia refused.
On the other hand, Zelenskyy signaled calm on the option of a demilitarized zone in the east, which would include both Ukrainian and Russian troops withdrawing from the same parts of the region.
However, he stressed that territorial reconciliation will be possible only after Ukraine obtains strong security guarantees.According to the American media Axios, the Ukrainian people will reject any peace agreement that requires Kiev to unilaterally withdraw from Donbass.
The negotiators behind the meeting were said to be talking behind the scenes.A US news report, The New York Times, China (19/2/2026), indicated that intense negotiations have been underway in recent weeks.
These negotiations are about the control of the eastern region of Donetsk and the demilitarized zone.This was learned from three people familiar with the negotiation process who wished to remain anonymous.
The idea is similar to some of the 28-point proposals Trump put forward in November 2025. The plan calls on Kiev to accept most of Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands.In this plan, no commitment is asked from Russia.Meanwhile, Ukraine is asked to withdraw its troops and hand over its territory.Furthermore, Ukraine is no longer asked to withdraw its troops from the four regions annexed by Russia in 2022.
The core of the 28-point proposal is aimed at Ukraine's territorial and security architecture. Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea will be recognized as de facto Russian territory. Ukraine is obliged to withdraw its troops from the Donetsk region it still controls and establish a demilitarized buffer zone.
Meanwhile, Russia could keep under its control the territories of Kherson and Zaporozhye, but withdraw from the smaller territories of Kharkiv and Sumy.
At the same time, the 28-point resolution closes the door to NATO membership for Ukraine, prohibits the deployment of NATO forces in Ukraine, limits Ukraine's military power and grants amnesty to all parties for actions during the war.
Although there were no breakthroughs, the White House said the Geneva meeting made significant progress.White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said a joint peace deal is promising in a statement from Washington.She also hinted that a follow-up meeting could be held soon.
Levitt said Trump has called the nearly four-year-old war "very fair."It is unfair not only to the Russian and Ukrainian citizens who lost their lives, but also to the American taxpayers who funded Ukraine.
After the meeting, the delegations of both sides agreed to meet again, but no date was set.Zelensky said that it would be appropriate to hold the next round at the end of this month.(Reuters/AP/AFP)
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