February 16, 2026
US, Russia, and Ukraine open third peace talks in Geneva
Trump tells Ukraine to "come to the table fast" as Witkoff and Kushner lead delegation
🌍Foreign Policy🛡️National Security
Russia, Ukraine, and the United States confirmed a third round of U.S.-brokered peace talks for Geneva on Feb. 17-18, 2026, with delegations publicly announced on Feb. 14 and final positions locked in on Feb. 16. The talks are the first held on European soil and come just before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy 
Steve Witkoff represent the United States. Neither holds a Senate-confirmed position. Kushner brokered the Abraham Accords in 2020 and has been central to Trump's Middle East and now Ukraine portfolio. Witkoff is a real estate developer handling both Ukraine and Iran diplomacy simultaneously.
Ukraine's lead negotiator Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, told reporters the team was going in 'without excessive expectations.' Zelenskyy said publicly that the U.S. too often asks Ukraine to make concessions while too rarely pressing Russia — a direct criticism of Trump's approach.
Russia's delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, a Putin adviser who headed Russia's negotiating team in the failed Istanbul talks in March 2022. Medinsky has written books claiming Ukraine has no distinct national identity and demanding Ukraine accept Russian territorial demands. His appointment signals continuity in Moscow's maximalist position.
Russia demanded before the talks that Ukraine hand over the 20% of Donetsk province it hasn't yet captured — territory Ukraine still controls militarily. Russia also wants Ukraine to withdraw from territory it holds, commit never to join NATO, and shrink its military size. Ukraine refused all three conditions.
The night before talks began, Russia launched 29 missiles and 396 drones against Ukraine, wounding nine people including children and cutting heat and water to tens of thousands of Odesa residents. Zelenskyy said the attacks showed Moscow 'regards the partners' diplomatic efforts' with contempt.
The first two rounds in Abu Dhabi produced no territorial agreement. A temporary energy infrastructure pause agreed after Abu Dhabi collapsed after four days when Russia resumed full-scale drone and missile strikes. The only concrete outcome was a prisoner exchange — the first in five months.
U.S. military commanders also attended Geneva alongside the diplomatic delegation. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met separately with Russian and Ukrainian military chiefs to discuss ceasefire monitoring mechanisms and demilitarized zone logistics.
Trump has set an informal June 2026 deadline for a peace settlement. He told reporters on Feb. 16 that the talks were 'big' and would be 'very easy,' while Zelenskyy told Munich Security Conference attendees that sides were 'talking about completely different things.'
🌍Foreign Policy🛡️National Security
People, bills, and sources
Steve Witkoff
U.S. Special Envoy
Jared Kushner
Trump son-in-law; informal senior adviser
Rustem Umerov
Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council; Ukraine's lead negotiator
Vladimir Medinsky
Adviser to President Putin; head of Russian delegation
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
Donald Trump
President of the United States
What you can do
1
civic action
Contact your senators about U.S. conditions in the Ukraine peace talks
The Trump administration is conducting Ukraine-Russia diplomacy without a Senate-ratified treaty process. Any final peace agreement requiring U.S. security commitments to Ukraine would likely need congressional approval. Senators can signal their expectations for what any agreement must require from Russia.
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [STATE]. I'm calling about the U.S.-brokered Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Geneva. I'm concerned the Trump administration is pressuring Ukraine to cede territory while not equally pressing Russia. I'd like Senator [NAME] to publicly state what conditions any peace agreement must meet — including Russian military withdrawal and accountability for civilian attacks. Can you tell me the senator's current position?
2
educational
Learn how peace treaties actually get ratified under U.S. law
The Constitution requires a two-thirds Senate vote to ratify formal treaties. Presidents can also make 'executive agreements' that don't require Senate approval. Understanding the difference matters because it determines how binding any Ukraine peace deal is on future administrations.
Search 'treaty vs executive agreement' at crsreports.congress.gov for nonpartisan analysis of how international agreements get made — and when Congress gets a vote.
3
civic action
Write to your House representative about U.S. involvement in Ukraine and security commitments
Congress controls foreign military financing. The Trump administration's Pearl Program sells American weapons to Ukraine through NATO partners, but Congress can modify or restrict that funding. Your representative has a vote on foreign military financing appropriations.
Hi, my name is [NAME]. I'm asking Rep. [NAME] what conditions they believe should be attached to any peace framework involving Ukraine. I also want to know their position on U.S. security commitments to Ukraine going forward.