Third round of US-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks resumes in Geneva

2026-02-18 - 08:52

The third round of US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine entered its second day in Geneva Wednesday, following a marathon initial session exceeding four hours. American mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are facilitating discussions that come one week before the fourth anniversary of the conflict's escalation. Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky leads Moscow's delegation, replacing senior military officials from previous Abu Dhabi rounds, while Ukraine's team is headed by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov. Delegations and Framework Umerov confirmed that following the joint session, delegations divided into political and military working groups to examine "practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions." He noted that both blocs completed their work Tuesday, with discussions resuming Wednesday morning. The Ukrainian official also held separate consultations with European partners including France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland to synchronize approaches. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated the talks would address a "wider range of issues" including territorial matters central to Russian demands. Conflicting Signals and Progress Claims Witkoff expressed optimism on social media, stating that President Trump's "success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress." However, Russian media described the atmosphere as "very tense" and reported separate Russian-US contacts alongside the trilateral format. President Zelenskyy revealed that Russia launched 29 missiles and nearly 400 drones ahead of the Geneva round, with 25 intercepted, characterizing the strikes as Russia's greeting to new diplomatic formats. He emphasized that Ukrainian representatives must raise the issue of attacks with American mediators, noting Kyiv's readiness for a just agreement while defending its sovereignty. The closed-door talks are proceeding without immediate public statements expected.