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Third round of Russia-Ukraine talks to take place as strikes continue

February 17, 2026

Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting in Geneva for US-mediated negotiations ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, though prospects for progress appear dim given Moscow's unwavering territorial demands. Just hours before the talks, Russia launched a massive aerial assault involving 400 drones and nearly 30 missiles across 12 Ukrainian regions, killing at least three people and severely damaging already compromised energy infrastructure during freezing winter conditions. The discussions, led by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, come as Russia controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory and demands more land that Ukraine refuses to surrender.

Who is affected

  • Ukrainian civilians (at least 3 energy workers killed near Slovyansk, 9 additional people including children injured, thousands without power in Odesa)
  • Russia's Krasnodar region residents (Ilsky oil refinery fire)
  • Belgorod border region residents (infrastructure damage)
  • Russian and Ukrainian delegations (Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, Vladimir Medinsky, and military intelligence figures)
  • US mediators (Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner)
  • DTEK energy firm and its customers
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin's administrations

What action is being taken

  • Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting in Geneva for talks
  • Russia is conducting nightly strikes on Ukraine's power grid and infrastructure
  • Ukraine is launching drone attacks on Russian targets including oil refineries and infrastructure
  • Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are mediating the negotiations
  • Russia is operating air defenses to repel Ukrainian drones

Why it matters

  • This matters because the conflict has reached a critical juncture nearly four years after Russia's invasion, with Russia occupying 20% of Ukrainian territory and showing no willingness to compromise on its territorial demands. The ongoing attacks during peace negotiations demonstrate Russia's continued aggression while Ukraine faces an acute energy crisis during winter, affecting millions of civilians. The involvement of President Trump's representatives signals renewed US pressure for a resolution, though the significant gap between Russian demands for more territory and Ukrainian requirements for Western security guarantees suggests the war may continue indefinitely without major concessions from either side.

What's next

  • Talks will continue on Wednesday
  • Kremlin spokesman indicated no news should be expected from Tuesday's session
  • No other explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC