Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Resume in Geneva Amidst Continued Attacks

Geneva, Switzerland – Representatives from Russia and Ukraine resumed peace negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with the United States acting as a mediator. The talks come as fighting continues and just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Whereas Ukraine aims to prioritize humanitarian issues and security guarantees, Russia is focusing on territorial concessions .

Negotiation Dynamics and Key Players

The Russian delegation, led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, arrived in Geneva after an eight-hour flight . The Ukrainian delegation is headed by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine . Both sides have expanded their teams, with the Russian delegation exceeding 20 people, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Igor Kostyukov . The Ukrainian team includes Kirill Budanov, head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office, and key intelligence and military officials .

Recent Attacks and International Response

Prior to the commencement of talks, Russia launched attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, resulting in three injuries in Odesa and fires in the Sumy region . President Zelenskyy stated that these strikes were deliberately targeted at Ukraine’s energy systems . Ukraine also reportedly struck a Russian oil facility . U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to quickly reach an agreement with Moscow .

Talks Held Behind Closed Doors

The negotiations are taking place behind closed doors at the InterContinental Hotel in Geneva, with no immediate information expected to be released . This round of talks follows two previous rounds in Abu Dhabi that did not yield a breakthrough . The dialogue is scheduled to continue until February 18, 2026.

Paralympic Developments

Separately, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete under their own flags at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo .