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Russia says Ukraine peace talks in Geneva were difficult, but business-like

By Thomson Reuters Feb 18, 2026 | 4:21 AM

MOSCOW, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said on Wednesday that ​U.S.-mediated peace talks between ‌Russia and Ukraine in Geneva had been difficult but business-like, and that a new round ‌of ​talks would ⁠be held soon.

The ⁠U.S. has been trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but ​progress has been halting, with Russia demanding Ukraine ⁠withdraw from parts ⁠of the eastern ​Donbas region it still controls, ​an idea Kyiv has rejected.

“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.

“They were difficult ⁠but business-like. The next ​meeting ‌will take place ​soon,” he ⁠said.

Medinsky declined to answer questions from reporters after his short statement.

(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Felix LightEditing by ​Andrew Osborn)