The White House has hit back at Volodymyr Zelensky after he said the US was piling undue pressure on Kyiv to end the war.
Zelensky said Trump’s insistence that Ukraine should compromise was “not fair” ahead of trilateral talks in Geneva, which ended abruptly on Wednesday after just two hours.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that Trump believes the war has been “very unfair, not just for the Russians and Ukrainians who have lost their lives, but also for the American people and the American taxpayer who were footing the bill for this war effort before President Trump put a stop to it”.
Both sides have said they are willing to continue peace talks in future, though it is not clear when or where this will take place.
Zelensky said he was dissatisfied with the lack of progress in Geneva, insisting that “sensitive political matters” and the need for compromise had not been addressed properly.
“As of today, we cannot say that the result is sufficient,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine frontline mapped: Kyiv counteroffensive regained territory before fruitless US peace talks
Ukraine peace talks have been little more than a mafia-style shakedown by the US and Russia
‘I don’t need historical s**t’: Zelensky tears into Putin over Ukraine peace talks
Ukraine officials to boycott Winter Paralympics in protest over Russia’s participation
South Africans tricked into fighting for Russia in Ukraine return home
Key Points
- Merz: Negotiations will not end war, this is the bitter truth
- Trump hits back at Zelensky's 'unfair' remarks
- Trump thinks it's unfair that both Ukrainians and Russians dying, says White House - watch
- Ukraine to boycott winter Paralympics over Russian participation
- Ukraine and Russia close to agreeing terms of monitoring ceasefire – Zelensky
Zelensky outraged that Russia and Belarus to compete in Paralympics under national flags
13:09 , Alex Croft‘I don’t need historical s**t’: Zelensky tears into Putin over Ukraine peace talks - Full report
12:20 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has torn into Vladimir Putin after the latest round of negotiations in Geneva failed to achieve a breakthrough.
The increasingly frustrated Ukrainian president lashed out at the Russia leader in a post on X and an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan.
“I don't need historical shit to end this war and move to diplomacy. Because it's just a delay tactic. I read no less history books than Putin,” the Ukrainian president said in a furious post on X.
The remarks came hours after hopes of a Ukraine peace deal looked further than ever Wednesday, when critical talks with Moscow and Washington ended in less than two hours.
‘I don’t need historical s**t’: Zelensky tears into Putin over Ukraine peace talks
Kremlin says it has nothing to add on peace talks
11:55 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin said on Thursday that it had nothing to add about this week's peace talks on Ukraine in Geneva beyond what its chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky already said.
Medinsky said on Wednesday that the U.S.-mediated talks had been difficult but business-like, and that a new round would be held soon.
Ukraine strikes Russian oil depot in western Pskov
11:28 , Alex CroftUkrainian drones hit a Russian oil depot in the western region of Pskov, causing explosions and a fire, an official from Ukraine's SBU security service said on Thursday.
"The destruction of oil depots directly affects the enemy's ability to conduct combat operations, advance and move staff reserves. Such operations are part of a systematic weakening of Russia's military potential," the official told the Reuters news agency.
Hungary considering halting power and gas exports to Ukraine unless Druzhba pipeline reopened
11:09 , Alex CroftHungary is considering a halt in its power and gas exports to Ukraine and will take steps unless Ukraine resumes crude shipments via the Druzhba pipeline, prime minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff told a briefing on Thursday.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry suspended Russian oil transit to eastern Europe via the Ukrainian part of the Druzhba oil pipeline on 27 January as a result of a Russian attack.
The move drew criticism from the Slovak and Hungarian governments, who said it was an attempt by Kyiv to pressure Hungary to drop its opposition to Kyiv's future membership of the European Union
Chief of staff Gergely Gulyas also said the government had freed up strategic oil reserves, after oil group MOL asked for it on Monday.
Zelensky: I know more about Russia than Putin knows about Ukraine
10:52 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has said he knows “more about Russia” than Vladimir Putin knows about Ukraine, because the Russian president has only been to “big cities” in Ukraine.
The comments came in a post in which he hit out at Russia for its “historical s***”, in which he was referring to lectures about history from Moscow amid negotiations over peace in Ukraine.
“I know more about his country than he knows about Ukraine. Simply because I have been to Russia – to many cities. And I knew a lot of people there. He has never been to Ukraine this many times,” Mr Zelensky said.
“He was only in big cities. I went to small cities. From the northern part to the southern part. Everywhere. I know their mentality.”
Next round of peace talks to take place in Switzerland - Zelensky
10:21 , Alex CroftThe next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks will again be held in Switzerland, Volodymyr Zelensky has said in an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored.
"I just wanted to underline that the next meeting will be also in Switzerland. That's what I have information for today. Of course, our group will come back, and I will have more open briefs than I had by phone,@ he said.
The Ukrainian president said it is positive that a meeting was held in Switzerland.
“This is very important. I always raise this, with all respect to the Middle East and other countries, but I think, if the war is in Europe, then we need to find a place and people, Europeans, they have to feel that this is aggression against us and against Europe."
Merz: Negotiations will not end war, this is the bitter truth
09:54 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz has offered a grim outlook for ongoing peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
He warns that the “bitter truth” is that “rational and humanitarian arguments will not convince Putin” to end Russia’s four-year war in Ukraine.
"In my view, this war will only end when one of the two sides is exhausted, either militarily or economically," he told newspapers Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft (NBR) and Rheinpfalz.
The goal of European efforts must now be focussed on ensuring “that the Russian state cannot continue to wage war militarily or finance it economically".
He said it will be “virtually impossible” for Europe to ever restore normal relations with Putin, adding: "When I look at this regime and its furious terror, I have little hope."
Zelensky blasts Moscow's 'historical s***' in peace talks
09:25 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has now blasted Russia’s “historical s***” during negotiations, which he says is just a delay tactic to prevent a real end to the war.
“I don't need historical s* to end this war and move to diplomacy. Because it's just a delay tactic,” the Ukrainian president wrote on X.
“I read no less history books than [Russian president Vladimir] Putin,” he said, adding: “The only thing that I want to speak about with him is that I think that we need to resolve it in the most successful way. I mean to end this war quickly. That is why I want to speak only about such things.”
I don't need historical shit to end this war and move to diplomacy. Because it's just a delay tactic. I read no less history books than Putin. And I learned a lot. I know more about his country than he knows about Ukraine. Simply because I have been to Russia – to many cities.…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 19, 2026
Fire at oil refinery put out after two days, say Russian authorities
08:43 , Alex CroftRussian emergency services said on Thursday that a fire at Ilsky refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region that broke out on Tuesday after a drone attack had been extinguished.
Authorities said on Tuesday that a reservoir with oil products was damaged, in the latest of Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Ilsky refinery, which has a capacity of around 138,000 barrels of oil per day, has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drones.
Recap: Ukraine peace talks end after just two hours
07:46 , James ReynoldsThe third round of US-Ukrainian-Russian talks in Geneva concluded without a breakthrough on Wednesday.
Here’s what you need to know:
Ukraine peace talks with Russia and US fall apart in less than two hours
Zelensky says Ukraine will not cede Ukrainian territory as he calls out 'double standards'
07:01 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that Ukraine will not cede territory to Russia or withdraw from land it currently controls, as US-brokered peace talks remain deadlocked ahead of the war’s fourth anniversary.
In an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, Zelensky said the defence of the Donbas had come at a devastating human cost.
"Thousands, dozens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed on this direction, defending this part of Ukraine," Zelensky said.
"We have to understand that Donbas is a part of our independence. It's a part of our values. It's not about the land. It's not only about territories. It's about people."
He said negotiators had made more headway on technical discussions around monitoring a potential ceasefire than on political questions, stressing that any lasting settlement would require firm security guarantees and European involvement.
“When we speak about security guarantees, we mean strong guarantees that the rest of the world – or some countries – will be ready to respond if or when Putin returns with his aggression,” he said, referring to Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky described Ukrainians as exhausted after nearly four years of full-scale war but said the country remained united, pointing to the nationwide mobilisation of repair crews following winter energy attacks.
In the same interview, Zelensky criticised what he called “double standards” in international sport, citing the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and condemning a decision by the International Paralympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their own flags at next month’s Paralympics.
Editorial: President Trump is wrong. Ukraine can win this war
07:00 , Jane Dalton
Ukraine peace talks have been little more than a mafia-style shakedown by the US and Russia
06:50 , Shweta SharmaThe collapse of the “peace talks” in Geneva between Russia and Ukraine is a moment to be celebrated. But Europe’s politicians may need a stiff drink to fortify them for what is to come, after Volodymyr Zelensky described what US deal-brokers were doing as “unfair”.
The entire process has been a mafia-style shakedown of Ukraine and her allies by the US and Russia, who have weaponised lies about the whole bloody process – from the causes of the war to the prescriptions for ending it.
In Pavlohrad, the big lie for internal refugees from Russia’s “meat grinder” operations in the east is that Vladimir Putin sent forces to rescue them from Ukrainian nationalists... that he sent Russian soldiers to save Russian-speakers from the threat of oblivion meted out by Kyiv.
Nikolai Klymenko, 56, sits wheezing on the edge of a bed in the government-run relief coordination centre in the city, an hour’s drive from the front lines. A former soldier in the Soviet army, he fought in Kandahar, Jalalabad and elsewhere during Moscow’s efforts to prop up a communist regime in Kabul in the 1980s. He says he was decorated for bravery and that he was blown up by a booby trap in Kandahar, and has the scars to prove it.
Read Sam Kiley's detailed ground report.
Ukraine peace talks little more than a mafia-style shakedown by the US and Russia
In pictures: Ukrainians battle snowy weather amid cuts power
06:40 , Shweta SharmaPeople stood in freezing temperatures as they waited to receive food aid from World Central Kitchen at a relief distribution point.
Wrapped in heavy coats and scarves, families line up patiently for hot meals and essential supplies, braving the bitter cold as humanitarian groups work to meet growing needs.
Russia attacked the Ukrainian energy system again this week, striking both thermal power plants and electrical substations.
Ukrainians endured record cold in early February, with temperatures in some parts of the country plunging to minus 30°C (–22°F).
Ukraine's ex-military chief Zaluzhnyi reveals new details of rift with Zelensky
06:05 , Shweta SharmaValerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s former military chief, has revealed new details of his rift with Volodymyr Zelensky, fuelling speculation of a future political rivalry.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Zaluzhnyi, who is now Ukraine’s ambassador to London, said he felt threatened by a 2022 raid by Ukraine’s SBU security service and blamed Zelensky for the failure of the 2023 counteroffensive, accusing him of not committing sufficient resources and overriding his strategy.
Polls have consistently shown Zaluzhnyi as Zelensky’s main potential challenger in any post-war election, though he has not declared political ambitions.
Zelensky’s office did not comment directly, but the president stressed the need for national unity, saying “any other politics in Ukraine is absolutely unnecessary at present.”
Ukraine and Russia close to ceasefire-monitoring deal – Zelensky
06:00 , Jane DaltonUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky says his country and Russia are close to having a document that will establish how any ceasefire will be monitored.
Two days of peace talks in Geneva ended without a breakthrough as President Zelensky said he was dissatisfied with the outcome while Washington reported "meaningful progress".
Mr Zelensky told Piers Morgan Uncensored that progress on political issues had been slow and that the countries’ leaders could try to hammer out a deal among themselves over the most divisive issue of land.
South Africans tricked into fighting for Russia in Ukraine return home
05:52 , Shweta SharmaFour South African men, reportedly lured into fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine's Donbas region, have returned home after being trapped there, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported.
Police met the men at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport upon their Wednesday arrival.
They belong to a larger group of 17 who sent distress calls to the South African government in November.
South Africans tricked into fighting for Russia in Ukraine return home
Russia says it has 'no reason' to believe that India will stop buying its oil
05:51 , Shweta SharmaRussia’s foreign ministry has said they have "no reason" to believe that India has changed its position on buying Russian oil.
The US president Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that India has agreed to stop its crude oil imports from Russia.
“We have no reason to believe that India has changed its position on buying Russian hydrocarbons. India’s purchase of Russian hydrocarbons benefits both countries and helps maintain stability in the international energy market,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in her weekly briefing.
“There is nothing new in the claims of US president Donald Trump, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have grabbed the right to dictate to independent nations,” Ms Zakharova said.
However, Russian crude accounted for its smallest share of India’s oil imports since late 2022 in January, industry data showed.
India – the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer – had sharply increased purchases of discounted Russian oil after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with volumes exceeding 2 million barrels a day in some months.
But western sanctions and pressure to secure a trade deal with the United States have led New Delhi to scale back imports.
Since November, China has overtaken India as the largest buyer of Russia’s seaborne crude.
Trump thinks it's unfair that both Ukrainians and Russians dying, says White House
05:23 , Shweta SharmaTrump hits back at Zelensky's 'unfair' remarks
05:15 , Shweta SharmaThe White House has pushed back after Volodymyr Zelensky described American pressure tactics on Kyiv as “unfair”.
Zelensky had complained that Donald Trump kept publicly calling on Ukraine to make concessions to Russia in peace talks, without making similar demands of Moscow.
Responding to Zelensky’s comments, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Donald Trump views the conflict as “very unfair – not just for Russians and Ukrainians who have lost their lives, but also for the American people and the American taxpayer who were footing the bill for this war effort before President Trump put a stop to it”.
In March last year, the Trump administration suspended billions of dollars in US military aid to Ukraine, halting crucial weapons shipments as Washington increased pressure on Kyiv to pursue negotiations with Moscow.A revised arrangement was later introduced under which Ukraine receives weapons from US stockpiles funded by Nato countries.
On Monday, Trump issued a call for Ukraine to end the war, claiming it was up to the war-hit nation to reach a conclusion.
“Ukraine better come to the table fast. That’s all I’m telling you,” Trump said on Air Force One.
Leavitt: The President also sees this situation as unfair for the American people who were funding the war effort before President Trump stopped it.
— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) February 18, 2026
The U.S. continues selling weapons to NATO that are sent to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/cGibkGzE3Q
Ukraine to boycott winter Paralympics over Russian participation
05:00 , Jane Dalton
Ukraine officials to boycott Winter Paralympics over Russia’s participation
In pictures: Protesters call for end to war as Geneva peace talks stall
04:17 , Shweta SharmaNegotiations in Geneva, the third round of direct talks organised by the US, have ended with no major breakthrough to end Russia's war on Ukraine.
The US delegation was led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and US president Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Russian contingent was led by chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, who left after less than two hours on the second day of talks on Wednesday.
Outside the venue, several protesters gathered holding placards reading “Stop the war now”, calling for an immediate end to the conflict.
Zelensky ‘rival’ reveals deep rift between them after army ousting
03:45 , Jane Dalton
Zelensky’s ‘rival’ reveals deep rift between them after army ousting and raid
Ukraine imposes sanctions against Belarus' Lukashenko for aiding Russia's war
03:36 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky announced sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday, pledging to “significantly intensify countermeasures” over Minsk’s support for Russia’s war effort.
“We will significantly intensify countermeasures against all forms of Lukashenko’s assistance in the killing of Ukrainians,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
Belarus, one of Moscow’s closest allies, served as a staging ground for Russia’s 2022 invasion, allowing its forces to advance towards Kyiv before being pushed back by Ukrainian troops.
Zelensky said Belarus – which shares more than 1,000km of border with Ukraine – had also facilitated Russia’s large-scale drone attacks.
Although there has been no active fighting along the Belarusian frontier, he said Minsk allowed Russia in the second half of 2025 to deploy relay stations on its territory to control drones used in strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
In his nightly address, Zelensky accused Lukashenko of continuing to align himself with Vladimir Putin in what he described as a “dangerous geopolitical game”, including hosting Russia’s hypersonic Oreshnik missile system in Belarus.
“Belarus continues to be used as a supply base for components, equipment and machinery for the Russian army,” he said. “Minsk must understand this. The sanctions send a political signal.”
Ukraine launches 'massive missile strike' in Russia's Belgorod
03:22 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian forces launched a massive missile at Russia’s Belgorod city, causing power outages in large parts of the border city, local officials said.
Ukraine reportedly also struck an oil depot in Russia's Pskov Oblast.
"Unfortunately, there's been another massive missile attack on energy facilities in the city of Belgorod. There are major damages,” Belgorod Oblast governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
“We can see that there's a partial loss of electricity and heat, so we're currently investigating," he added.
The city where Ukraine struck is just 34kms from Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia.
Explosions and fires were reported overnight at an oil depot in the town of Velikiye Luki in northwestern Russia's Pskov Oblast.
Truce monitoring proposed as Geneva talks end without breakthrough
03:07 , Shweta SharmaThe US-mediated second day of peace talks in Geneva ended with no sign of a breakthrough and with both sides saying the talks were "difficult”.
The trilateral talks covered territorial arrangements, energy security, and control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky called it "difficult but practical" and said the next session is expected "soon."
"The negotiations were not easy," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the talks broke up and he spoke briefly by phone from Kyiv with his negotiating team.
Mr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces are prepared to oversee a ceasefire, provided there is sufficient political will to implement and uphold it.
“They have essentially agreed on almost everything,” he added, noting that the United States would certainly be involved in monitoring the truce. He described this as a constructive sign.
On the political front, Zelensky said the discussions addressed “all the sensitive issues”. He added that a more detailed account would be shared once the delegation returns.
Opinion: Talks little more than mafia-style shakedown
02:30 , Jane DaltonBy Sam Kiley:
Ukraine peace talks little more than a mafia-style shakedown by the US and Russia
Trump thinks it's unfair that both Ukrainians and Russians dying, says White House
01:15 , Jane DaltonDonald Trump’s spokeswoman says the US president believes it’s not fair that both Ukrainians and Russians are being killed.
Asked about Volodymyr Zelensky’s criticism of Mr Trump – that he was always pressuring Ukraine, not Russia, to make concessions, Karoline Leavitt said: "I think the president would respond to that by saying by saying he does not think it's fair that thousands of Ukrainians are losing their lives and Russians too in this deadly war.”
She said there would be another round of talks in future.
She went on: “But I think the president views this entire situation as very unfair, not just for Russians and Ukrainians who have lost their lives, but also for the American people and the American taxpayer who were footing the bill for this war effort before President Trump put a stop to it.
“And I would just remind remind everyone around the world that the United States is still selling weapons to Nato that are then being sent to Ukraine in their defence of their freedom in their borders."
Ukraine cuts electricity imports as cold weather relents
Wednesday 18 February 2026 23:59 , Jane DaltonUkraine was finally able to reduce reliance on power imports last week as the bitter winter cold relented, as Russia continued its attacks on the energy infrastructure.
“Electricity exports have remained at zero for three months in a row," said analyst DixiGroup said.
Ukrainians suffered record cold conditions in early February, with temperatures in some parts of the country hitting minus 30 degrees Celsius (-22°F) - just as Russian attacks knocked out large parts of the energy network.
Russia demands proof Navalny was poisoned
Wednesday 18 February 2026 22:59 , Jane DaltonRussia’s foreign ministry spokesperson has demanded that European nations accusing Russia of poisoning Alexei Navalany provide evidence.
"All the accusations against Russia were of the 'highly likely' variety. There were no specific details,” said Maria Zakharova.
“It was purely a proclamation to become the opening act of the Munich (security) conference and to overshadow the Epstein files.”
Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said on Saturday that analyses of samples from Navalny's body had confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America and not found naturally in Russia.
ICYMI: How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem?
Wednesday 18 February 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsAnti-corruption investigators in Ukraine announced Operation Midas last November as they identified a large-scale corruption scheme in the country’s energy sector.
Several high profile arrests have followed, but the country still has a long way to go to rid itself entirely of corruption, experts say.
Here’s what Midas means for Ukraine:
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100m energy scheme scandal explained
We're close to ceasefire-monitoring document, says Zelensky
Wednesday 18 February 2026 21:41 , Jane DaltonUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia and Ukraine are close to having a document establishing how any ceasefire to end the war would be monitored, following peace talks in Geneva.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Mr Zelensky said that progress on political issues had been slower and that the country's leaders could try to hammer out a deal among themselves over the most divisive issue of land.
Ukraine and Russia close to agreeing terms of monitoring ceasefire – Zelensky
Wednesday 18 February 2026 21:21 , Jane DaltonUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky says his country and Russia are close to having a document that will establish how any ceasefire will be monitored.
Earlier, two days of peace talks in Geneva ended without a breakthrough as President Zelensky said he was dissatisfied with the outcome while Washington reported "meaningful progress".
Mapped: The state of Ukraine's frontlines
Wednesday 18 February 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsUS senators visit Odesa to propose new sanctions for Putin
Wednesday 18 February 2026 20:36 , Jane DaltonA delegation of US senators is returning from a trip to Ukraine, hoping to spur action in Congress for sanctions meant to economically cripple Moscow and pressure President Vladimir Putin to make concessions.
It was the first time US senators have visited Odesa, an economically crucial Black Sea port particularly targeted by Russia.
"Literally nobody believes that Russia is acting in good faith in the negotiations with our government and with the Ukrainians," Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said. "And so pressure becomes the key."
Legislation to impose tough sanctions on Russia has been on hold in Congress for months.
Senators have put forward a range of sanction measures, including a sweeping bill that would allow the Trump administration to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russia's oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
Foreign spies are reading Russian soldiers' texts, Kremlin claims amid crackdown
Wednesday 18 February 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsForeign intelligence services are able to see messages sent by Russian soldiers using the Telegram messaging app, Russia's minister for digital development Maksud Shadayev said on Wednesday.
Telegram, one of the most popular messenger services in Russia, is widely used by Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, but is under pressure from the authorities who have imposed restrictions on it over what they say is its failure to delete extremist content.
"There are numerous indications that foreign intelligence agencies have access to the messenger's correspondence and are using this data against the Russian military," Shadayev was cited as saying.
Despite those issues, Russian authorities will not block access to Telegram for troops in Ukraine for now, Shadayev said, adding that they would need "some time" to switch to other means of communication. He did not provide details.
Recap: Second day of talks concludes within two hours
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsThe second day of talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded within two hours this morning, following a six hour discussion on Tuesday.
The head of the Ukrainian delegation said that there was progress, and Zelensky told reporters that Kyiv had agreed to continue talks.
In Geneva, lead Ukrainian diplomat Rustem Umerov emerged confident that negotiations were “substantive” and that “a number of issues were clarified”.
Zelensky told reporters: "We can see that progress has been made but, for now, positions differ because the negotiations were difficult.”
Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s top negotiator, said the talks had been difficult but business-like, and that a new round of talks would be held soon.
"The negotiations lasted two days: a very long time yesterday in various formats, and then about two hours today," Medinsky, a senior Kremlin aide, told reporters in Geneva.
Talks substantive but political issues not addressed properly – Zelensky
Wednesday 18 February 2026 18:40 , Jane DaltonUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says the Geneva talks with Russian representatives on a military track were substantive but he said “sensitive political matters" had not been addressed properly.
He said he could not say the result was sufficient, and political issues needed further work.
He said he wanted the next round of talks this month.
Ukraine frontline mapped: Kyiv counteroffensive regains territory as peace talks resume
Wednesday 18 February 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsAs Ukraine claimed a string of victories in the southeast, Emil Kastehelmi, military analyst with Finland-based open-source intelligence collective Black Bird Group, told The Independent that the latest figures may not represent a strategic shift, but could offer some political relief in talks:
Ukraine frontline mapped: Kyiv regains territory before fruitless US peace talks
Talks little more than mafia-style shakedown
Wednesday 18 February 2026 17:25 , Jane DaltonThe Trump administration has seen Russia’s war as a business opportunity, writes World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley, in Ukraine:
Ukraine peace talks little more than a mafia-style shakedown by the US and Russia
Recap: Ukraine cuts electricity imports as cold weather relents
Wednesday 18 February 2026 17:01 , James ReynoldsUkraine was finally able to reduce reliance on power imports last week as the bitter winter cold relented, with Russian attacks on energy infrastructure still straining the war-weary nation.
"This is the first decline in weekly import volumes in the last five weeks,” analyst DixiGroup said late on Tuesday, announcing an import reduction of three per cent.
“Electricity exports have remained at zero for three months in a row," it said.
Ukrainians suffered record cold conditions in early February, with temperatures in some parts of the country hitting minus 30 degrees Celsius (-22°F) - just as Russian attacks knocked out large parts of the energy network.
Watch: Russia's top diplomat speaks after Geneva talks conclude
Wednesday 18 February 2026 16:29 , James ReynoldsRecap: Ukraine and Russia emerge from talks without a deal
Wednesday 18 February 2026 15:52 , James ReynoldsUkraine and Russia emerged from talks in Geneva without a deal as the thorny issue of territory remained a sticking point in negotiations.
Zelensky’s delegation was led by Rustem Umerov, the former minister of defence, who tempered expectations ahead of time.
He said on Wednesday that talks had been “intensive and substantive” and that some issues had been clarified. But talks ended abruptly today after just two hours.
A Ukrainian diplomatic source told the BBC that the issue of land remained a sticking point.
Russia’s delegation, led by Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky, said talks had been difficult but business-like. He also held closed-door talks with the Ukrainian side without the Americans, according to Russian media.
Both sides relayed that they expected more talks would follow.
Aftermath: Top negotiators from Russia and Ukraine leave talks
Wednesday 18 February 2026 15:11 , James Reynolds
Russia demands European nations prove Navalny was poisoned
Wednesday 18 February 2026 14:29 , James ReynoldsRussia’s vocal foreign ministry spokesperson today demanded the nations accusing Russia of poisoning Alexei Navalany provide proof to support their claims.
"All the accusations against Russia were of the 'highly likely' variety. There were no specific details,” said Maria Zakharova.
“It was purely a proclamation to become the opening act of the Munich (security) conference and to overshadow the Epstein files.”
Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said on Saturday that analyses of samples from Navalny's body had confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America and not found naturally in Russia.
They said Moscow had the "means, motive and opportunity" to administer the poison to him.
Negotiations tough - but important, Kyiv concludes
Wednesday 18 February 2026 14:13 , James ReynoldsKyiv walked away from two days of talks in Geneva publicly optimistic about their importance.
Zelensky’s chief of staff said the discussions were “difficult but important” in comments on Wednesday.
He reiterated top diplomat Rustem Umervov’s insistence that more talks would soon follow.
"The latest round of negotiations in Geneva has ended. The discussions were difficult but important," Kyrylo Budanov said in a post on the Telegram app, posting a picture of Ukrainian negotiators.
"Together with our team, we are preparing for the next round, which will take place in the near future."
Russia's top diplomat held private meeting with Ukrainians after the end of formal talks: RIA
Wednesday 18 February 2026 13:54 , James ReynoldsRussia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky held a two-hour closed-door meeting with the Ukrainian side in Geneva after the end of formal talks, Russia's state RIA news agency reported.
The formal talks, which were mediated by the US, ended earlier on Wednesday after only two hours.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described them as "difficult" and accused Russia of deliberately delaying progress toward a deal to end the four-year-old war.
