LONDON — American, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are expected to convene again in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday for a second day of trilateral peace talks.
The delegations met Tuesday for the opening sessions of the third round of U.S.-brokered trilateral talks, the first two rounds of which were held in the United Arab Emirates starting in late January.
In a post to X, President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said both Ukraine and Russia had agreed to keep working towards a peace deal following Tuesday’s meetings.
“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.
Protesters hold placards and Ukrainian flags amid talks between Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17, 2026.
Harold Cunningham/AFP via Getty Images
“Both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal,” he added.
Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and the leader of Kyiv’s delegation, said in a post to Telegram that participants on Tuesday “discussed the results of today’s round of negotiations and synchronized approaches to further steps.”
“It is important to maintain a common vision and coordination of actions between Ukraine, the U.S. and Europe,” he added.
Umerov also said the Ukrainian team held talks with European representatives from France, the U.K., Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted to social media on Tuesday evening saying he was expecting a report from the Ukrainian negotiating team.
“Ukraine is ready. We do not need war. And we always act symmetrically — we are defending our state and our independence,” he wrote. “Likewise, we are ready to move quickly toward a just agreement to end the war. The only question is for the Russians: what do they want?”
A U.S. delegation led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner waits for the start of a meeting on the first day of the third round of trilateral talks between delegates from Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2026.
National Security And Defence Co via Reuters
The Ukrainian president again urged foreign partners to increase pressure and costs on Russia over Moscow’s continued long-range strike campaign against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
The attacks have focused on energy targets throughout the war’s fourth winter, plunging millions of Ukrainians into periodic darkness amid bitterly cold weather.
“The team absolutely must raise the issue of these strikes — first of all with the American side, which proposed that both us and Russia refrain from attacks,” Zelenskyy said.
“‘Shaheds,’ missiles and fantasy chatter about history matter more to them than real diplomacy, diplomacy and lasting peace,” Zelenskyy said of Moscow.
Russian officials have said little about the latest round of talks. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday, “There are no plans to make any announcements on this matter. Everything will be closed to the press.”
The Russian delegation is being led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin known for his ultraconservative and nationalistic messaging.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha speak in Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 16, 2026.
Alina Smutko/Reuters
In an interview with Sputnik Radio published on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said of the talks, “Any step that could lead to, or lead down a path that leads to, a resolution to the situation is of great importance,” as quoted by the state-run Tass news agency.
Zakharova again accused Ukraine’s European partners of trying to sabotage the peace negotiations and pressuring Kyiv to continue the war, echoing a long-held Russian disinformation narrative.
Ukraine and Russia continued their nightly drone and missile exchanges despite the ongoing talks in Geneva.
Ukraine’s air force said in a post to Telegram on Wednesday morning that Russia launched one missile and 126 drones into the country overnight, of which 100 drones were shot down or suppressed. The missile and 23 attack drones impacted across 14 locations, the air force said.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) said in posts to Telegram that six people were injured and one person killed in a Russian strike on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday evening. The SES also reported an overnight attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
People walk at a ruined city market following a Russia’s attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Shtekel)
The Associated Press
Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces shot down at least 43 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Russia’s federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, said in posts to Telegram that temporary flight restrictions were introduced at airports in Volgograd, Saratov, Cheboksary, Kazan and Kaluga.
ABC News’ Shannon Kingston, Ellie Kaufman, Will Gretsky and Joseph Simonetti contributed to this report.
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