By Ginika Igboke
Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva concluded abruptly on Feb. 18, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accusing Moscow of deliberately slowing the process and preventing a potential breakthrough.
The U.S.-mediated talks in the Swiss city were part of an ongoing diplomatic push led by U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war, which has escalated into a full-scale conflict lasting nearly four years. Washington has sought to position itself as a central broker in negotiations aimed at halting hostilities and defining a framework for long-term stability.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Feb. 18 that the trilateral discussions produced meaningful, though limited, progress.
“Both sides agreed to update their respective leaders and continue to work toward a peace deal together,” Leavitt said, adding that another round of talks is expected, though no timeline has been set.
Zelenskyy Voices Frustration Over Pace of Negotiations
Ahead of the second day of talks, Zelenskyy signaled concern about Russia’s posture at the negotiating table. In a Feb. 18 post on X, he wrote that the discussions had been difficult and suggested Moscow was intentionally prolonging the process.
“Yesterday’s meetings were indeed difficult, and we can state that Russia is trying to drag out negotiations that could already have reached the final stage,” Zelenskyy said. He thanked the American delegation for what he described as patience and close attention during discussions with Russian representatives.
Shortly after Zelenskyy’s remarks, Russian state news agency TASS reported that the negotiations ended after approximately two hours on Feb. 18. The report, citing a source within the Russian delegation, said Moscow’s lead negotiator, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, departed for the airport soon after the session concluded.
Medinsky later told TASS that the negotiations spanned two days and included extended discussions in multiple formats on the first day, followed by a shorter meeting on the second.
“They were difficult, but businesslike,” Medinsky said, while indicating that another round would occur soon without specifying a date.
Russian outlet RIA reported that the Feb. 18 session consisted of a private two-hour discussion between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.
A Ukrainian official also confirmed to Reuters that the talks had ended after roughly two hours.
Ukrainian Delegation Cites Intensive Discussions
Kyiv’s lead negotiator, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, characterized the negotiations as intensive and substantive. In a Telegram post on Feb. 18, Umerov said both political and military representatives participated in discussions addressing security arrangements and mechanisms for implementing potential agreements.
“We discussed security parameters and mechanisms for implementing possible solutions. Some issues were clarified, while additional coordination is ongoing for some,” Umerov said.
He added that negotiators are focused on refining key provisions required to complete the process, describing the effort as complex and requiring consensus among all parties.
“There is progress, but so far without details,” he said.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian delegation would brief President Vladimir Putin directly but cautioned that it was premature to draw conclusions about the outcome of the talks.
US Envoy Highlights Continued Engagement
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who represented Washington in Geneva, said in a Feb. 17 post on X that Trump’s efforts to bring both sides together had produced tangible movement.
“President Trump’s success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress, and we are proud to work under his leadership to stop the killing in this terrible conflict,” Witkoff wrote. He reiterated that both parties agreed to continue consultations with their respective leaders.
The negotiations mark one of the most direct diplomatic engagements between Kyiv and Moscow since the war intensified in February 2022.
Zelenskyy Responds to Trump’s Public Pressure
Outside the formal meetings, Zelenskyy addressed comments made by Trump urging Ukraine to move quickly toward an agreement. Speaking to Axios in an interview published Feb. 18, the Ukrainian president said it was “not fair” for Trump to repeatedly call on Ukraine to make concessions publicly.
Trump had told reporters on Feb. 17, “Ukraine better come to the table fast. That’s all I’m telling you.”
Zelenskyy responded by saying he hoped Trump’s remarks were a negotiating tactic rather than a settled position.
“I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that if a territorial provision were included in a final agreement freezing current battle lines in the Donbas—similar to arrangements proposed for two other regions partially controlled by Russian forces—he believes the Ukrainian public might support it in a referendum.
“I think that if we will put in the document … that we stay where we stay on the contact line, I think that people will support this [in a] referendum,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing that it was his personal view.
Territorial Disputes Remain Central Obstacle
The issue of territory remains the most contentious element of the negotiations. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and has since expanded its territorial control following the large-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
Currently, Russian forces control approximately 20 percent of Ukraine’s pre-2014 territory. Moscow maintains control over most of the Donetsk Province in the Donbas region and has demanded that Kyiv formally cede additional areas that Russian forces have not fully captured.
Ukraine has consistently rejected such demands, insisting that sovereignty and territorial integrity are nonnegotiable principles under international law.
As diplomatic efforts continue, both sides appear to remain far apart on the core question of territory, even as they signal willingness to keep talking. The next round of negotiations is expected to determine whether incremental progress can evolve into a comprehensive framework for ending the conflict.
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