Ukraine’s lead negotiator says Kyiv will work ‘constructively’ however ‘with out extreme expectations’.
Printed On 17 Feb 2026
Russian and Ukrainian officers launched a 3rd spherical of United States-brokered peace negotiations in Switzerland, days earlier than the Ukraine warfare hits its four-year mark.
Ukraine’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov mentioned the 2 days of talks that began on Tuesday will embody “safety and humanitarian points”.
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The Ukrainian facet is “working constructively, targeted and with out extreme expectations”, Umerov posted on social media.
Forward of the talks, Russia carried out heavy air strikes in a single day throughout swathes of Ukraine, inflicting extreme injury to the ability community within the southern port metropolis of Odesa, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned left tens of 1000’s of individuals with out warmth and water.
Zelenskyy known as for Kyiv’s allies to extend strain on Russia to succeed in a “actual and simply” peace deal by way of harder sanctions and weapons provides to Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has pushed each Moscow and Kyiv to succeed in a deal to finish Europe’s greatest warfare since 1945, although Zelenskyy has complained his nation is dealing with extra strain to make concessions.
When requested by reporters what he expects from the Geneva negotiations, Trump singled out Ukraine.
“Properly we’ve got huge talks,” Trump advised reporters aboard Air Pressure One. “It’s going to be very simple. I imply, look, to date Ukraine higher come to the desk quick. That’s all I’m telling you.”
Russia is demanding Ukraine cede the remaining 20 p.c of the japanese area of Donetsk that Moscow has didn’t seize – one thing Kyiv refuses to do.
“This time, the thought is to debate a broader vary of points, together with, in reality, the principle ones. The principle points concern each the territories and every little thing else associated to the calls for we’ve got put ahead,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters on Monday.
