Optimistic messages mainly on military issues for ceasefire monitoring and ending the war were expressed by Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to journalists after the end of the three-day talks held in Geneva. Additionally, he stated that on political issues, such as territories and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the positions of both sides remain different. Specifically, as reported by Ukrinform agency, the Ukrainian president briefed journalists on the results of the contacts, noting that substantial progress was made on the military front.
Read: Geneva talks on Ukraine concluded – “Russia tries to prolong negotiations”, Zelensky’s message
Zelensky: “We agreed to move forward, we agreed to continue”
“From the briefing I just had, in principle, the military understands how a ceasefire and the end of the war can be monitored, provided there is the necessary political will. They agreed on almost everything there. The monitoring will definitely be carried out with the participation of the American side. I believe this is a constructive signal,” Zelensky stated.
Referring to the political front, the Ukrainian president clarified that on all sensitive issues – and specifically on territorial matters and the use of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – differences continue to exist between the sides. “That is, I heard progress in the military direction, there was dialogue in the political direction, we agreed to move forward, we agreed to continue. However, I didn’t hear such progress there as in the military front,” noted the head of the Ukrainian state.
Earlier, the Ukrainian president accused Russia of seeking to delay the peace talks process, following a “difficult” day of discussions in Geneva on Tuesday. “Yesterday’s meetings were indeed difficult and we can state that Russia is trying to prolong the negotiations, which could have already reached their final stage,” Zelensky wrote on X.
Rustem Umerov: “The ultimate goal remains unchanged: a just and lasting peace”
The talks between Ukrainians and Russians mediated by Americans were substantial and progress was made, estimated today Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, after the end of the Geneva negotiations.
“This complex work requires the agreement of all parties and sufficient time. There is progress, but details cannot be revealed at this stage,” the Ukrainian negotiator told a small group of journalists at the end of the second day of trilateral talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. “The negotiations were intensive and substantial,” Umerov added. Both Moscow and Kyiv characterized the negotiations as “difficult.”
According to him, the next step will be “achieving the necessary consensus” for submitting a document for consideration by the presidents. “Several points have been clarified, while others require further coordination,” he noted. “Our task is to prepare a practical, and not just formal, framework,” Umerov added, emphasizing that for Kyiv, “the ultimate goal remains unchanged: a just and lasting peace.”
We are working together with the team to bring real peace closer. The priority is security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukrainian representatives have clear directives on every aspect of the negotiations. I expect a detailed report following all the meetings. pic.twitter.com/PCQpQwrnYO
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 18, 2026
