close
Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Ukraine, Russia set for peace talks in Geneva with U.S. mediation

Kyiv is refusing to cede the territories Russia demands, including those in the Donetsk region that Ukraine still controls.

• February 17, 2026
Russian-Ukraine war
Image used to illustrate Russian-Ukraine war(Credit: The New York Times)

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are set to resume in Geneva on Tuesday, with the United States acting as mediator.

The latest discussions follow two rounds of trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi in January and early February, as diplomats seek to find a path to an end to the conflict, almost four years on from the Russian invasion.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to attend the talks on a busy day in Geneva, with Iran and the U.S. holding separate negotiations in the Swiss city on Tuesday.

According to the Kremlin, Russia is aiming to discuss the disputed territorial issues with Ukraine during the two-day talks.

However, a solution to the war in Ukraine is not yet in sight.

Kyiv is refusing to cede the territories Russia demands, including those in the Donetsk region that Ukraine still controls.

Ukraine is believed to be seeking a partial ceasefire on attacks on the country’s energy facilities after weeks of attacks that have left millions of Ukrainians without power, water, and heating in a brutally cold winter.

Kremlin representative Vladimir Medinsky is back at the table for the first time this year after his absence in Abu Dhabi.

Bilateral talks on Russian-American economic relations are also due to take place in Geneva at the same time, the Kremlin has said.

Moscow has stated that it wants to end its war on Ukraine, but only on its own terms. Ukraine has so far rejected Russia’s demands as unacceptable.

(dpa/NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Rt Hon Debo Ogundoyin

Politics

Oyo assembly eulogises speaker at 39

The oyo assembly has hailed its speaker as an exemplary leader on its 39th birthday.

U.S. soldiers

Politics

U.S military intervention will help tackle Nigeria’s insurgency: Ex-Lawmaker

The former lawmaker welcomed U.S. military intervention in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.

Bear

World

Forester injured in bear attack in Slovakia

Slovakia has an estimated 1,200 wild brown bears.

WAEC digital cert

Education

WAEC rolls out digital certificate services across five countries

The West African Examinations Council has announced the full implementation of its digital certificate services system, WAEC DigiCert, across its five member countries.

Araghchi, Witkoff

World

Iran, U.S. to hold talks in Geneva on Tehran’s nuclear programme

Top Iranian and U.S. diplomats will hold talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme in Geneva on Tuesday, mediated by the Gulf state of Oman.

Japan’s Nikkei

Economy

Asian markets cautious ahead of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks

Markets in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea were closed on Tuesday for the Lunar New Year holidays. U.S. markets were shut on Monday for Presidents’ Day.