February 18, 2026
Russia and Ukraine began peace talks in Geneva, brokered by the United States, on 17 February. The talks follow trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi in January, which led to an exchange of prisoners but no considerable breakthrough. According to Ukraine’s top security official, the talks focused on ‘practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions’. The peace talks will continue on 18 February. However, chances for a breakthrough are likely to be low as contentions remain regarding Ukraine ceding part of its territory to Russia.