Published on: 02/17/2026 - 04:18 Modified on: 02/17/2026 - 22:31
Talks in Geneva between Ukrainians and Russians under American mediation to find a solution to four years of fighting in Ukraine were "very tense" on Tuesday, but will continue on Wednesday, said a source close to the Russian delegation. Find the thread for February 17, 2026.
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“Very tense” discussions on Ukraine in Geneva will continue on Wednesday (source close to the Russian delegation)
Talks in Geneva between Ukrainians and Russians, under American mediation, were "very tense", said a source close to the Russian delegation, adding that the meetings would resume on Wednesday.
"They were very tense. They lasted six hours. They are now over. It was agreed to resume tomorrow," the source told reporters on condition of anonymity.
End of the first day of negotiations in Geneva (source close to the Russian delegation)
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have completed the first of two days of peace talks, under the leadership of the United States, in Geneva, a source close to the Russian delegation told journalists.
“That’s all for today,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
Thousands of Ukrainian children remain captive in Russia, says Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 2,000 Ukrainian children had been rescued by kyiv since the start of the war but "thousands" more remained captive in Russia and the occupied territories.
“Today we have a significant result: two thousand Ukrainian children who were under Russian control have been brought home,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a message on social networks.
"The road ahead is long and difficult. Thousands of Ukrainian children are still captive in Russia and are the victims of its crimes every day," he added.
Russia has been accused by Ukraine of having transferred around 20,000 Ukrainian children to its territory since the start of its massive invasion in 2022.
European security advisers present at Ukrainian negotiations
Security advisers from four European countries (Germany, France, United Kingdom and Italy) are present in Geneva for negotiations bringing together Ukrainians, Russians and Americans, announced an Italian government source.
“Meetings between [European] national security advisors and the Ukrainian and American delegations are planned during the day on the sidelines of the negotiations,” according to the same source.
Start of talks between Ukrainians, Russians and Americans in Geneva, announce kyiv and Moscow
Talks in Geneva between Russian, Ukrainian and American officials began early in the afternoon, kyiv's chief negotiator and a source within the Russian team announced.
“We are starting a new round of negotiations in a trilateral format: Ukraine, United States and Russia,” former Ukrainian Defense Minister Roustem Oumerov said on Facebook. This information was confirmed to journalists by the Russian source.
Macron calls on India to support a “moratorium on strikes” against the population and civilian infrastructure
French President Emmanuel Macron called on India to support the idea of suspending military strikes targeting populations and infrastructure in the war between Russia and Ukraine, following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“We could join forces to support the establishment of an immediate and lasting moratorium on strikes against civilians, civilian infrastructure,” he told the press in Bombay.
Military building collapses in western Russia, reason still unclear: governor
A building on a military base in northwest Russia has collapsed, local authorities announced, adding that the causes of the incident had not yet been established and that emergency services were on site.
“I ordered law enforcement officers to help the army clear the rubble and save the victims of the collapse of a military police building located on the Sertolovo military base,” a locality in the Leningrad region (northwest), regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said on Telegram.
Local media published images, not verified by AFP, showing a partially collapsed building and claimed that at least two people had died, a toll not yet confirmed by the authorities.
War in Ukraine: negotiations under American aegis in Geneva
Russia 'more inclined to take risks' in and around Sweden (Swedish military intelligence)
Russia has intensified its hybrid warfare activities and is more "inclined to take risks" in Sweden and its surroundings, the head of Swedish military intelligence told AFP.
“We have noticed that, in some cases, Russia has intensified its activities and has been more present, even more willing to take risks in our region,” declared Lieutenant General Thomas Nilsson, on the occasion of the annual publication of the Swedish military intelligence report. “Unfortunately, I think this could continue.”
Russian ghost fleet: end of immobilization of the tanker Grinch in Marseille-Fos
The immobilization since the end of January in the Gulf of Fos, near the oil terminal of the port of Marseille-Fos, of the tanker Grinch, suspected of belonging to the Russian ghost fleet, was lifted after payment of a fine, the Marseille prosecutor's office announced on Tuesday.
“The company owning the ship was sentenced by the Marseille judicial court as part of an appearance procedure upon admission of guilt (CRPC) to a financial penalty of confiscation,” indicated in a joint press release the prosecution, the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture and the Mediterranean maritime prefecture, without specifying the amount of the fine.
During its transit and until its exit from waters under French sovereignty and jurisdiction, the Grinch will remain under the surveillance of the competent French maritime services, under the authority of the maritime prefect of the Mediterranean.
Three thermal power plant employees killed in Russian strike in eastern Ukraine (ministry)
A Russian drone strike killed three employees of a thermal power plant in Sloviansk, eastern Ukraine, kyiv announced, after another night of Russian bombing of the country's energy infrastructure.
“In the morning, a Russian drone attacked a car carrying employees of the Sloviansk thermal power station,” a town located in the Donetsk region, announced Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrassov. “Unfortunately, three of them died.”
Russian strike on Odessa region causes 'incredibly serious' damage to power infrastructure: energy company
A Russian strike on the Odessa region of southern Ukraine has caused "incredibly serious" damage to the electricity infrastructure supplying the regional capital, Ukrainian energy company DTEK said.
“Repairs will take a long time to get the equipment back into working order,” the company said on social media.
A close friend of Vladimir Putin warns European powers against seizing Russian ships
Russia could use its navy to prevent European powers from seizing its ships and could retaliate against European shipping if Russian ships were seized, said Nikolai Patrushev, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.
“If we do not put up firm resistance to them, the British, French and even the Balts will soon become so arrogant that they will try to block our country's access to the seas, at least in the Atlantic basin,” said Nikolai Patrushev, a Kremlin adviser and chairman of the Russian Maritime Council.
Russia 'disdains peace efforts' with night attack before talks: Ukrainian diplomacy
Ukraine's foreign minister has accused Russia of "disregarding peace efforts" by launching hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight, just before the resumption of talks in Geneva to try to end the four-year-old war.
“Extent of Russia's contempt for peace efforts: a massive missile and drone strike against Ukraine just before the round of talks in Geneva,” Andriy Sybiga posted on social media.
Russia launches 29 missiles and 396 drones at Ukraine ahead of planned talks in Geneva
The Ukrainian Air Force recorded 29 missiles and 396 drones launched by Russia overnight from Monday to Tuesday on critical infrastructure, according to local officials.
More Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy targets are coming (Volodymyr Zelensky)
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence indicated more Russian attacks on energy targets were expected and that the strikes made it harder to reach a deal to end the nearly four-year-old war
Ukraine's president, speaking in his overnight video address on the eve of further talks with Russian and U.S. officials, also said Moscow's attacks were "evolving," involved a combination of weapons and required special defenses.
The Kremlin makes the territories the main subject in Geneva in the discussions on Ukraine
Ukraine's territorial concessions to Russia, an issue presented by Moscow as the "main topic", will be discussed at peace talks due to be held in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Kremlin said.
Nearly four years after the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, and despite multiple initiatives by US President Donald Trump to put an end to what he describes as a senseless "bloodbath", the positions of Moscow and kyiv remain far apart while Russia demands that Ukraine cede the entire Donbass region.
Russian officials arrive in Geneva for new talks
Russian officials scheduled to participate in talks in Switzerland between Moscow, kyiv and Washington to find a solution to four years of fighting in Ukraine have arrived in Geneva, a source within the Russian delegation told the press. The plane, with on board the Russian delegation led by nationalist historian and former Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinski, landed in Geneva around 6 a.m. GMT (7 a.m. local), according to this source.
Ukraine made the fastest military advance in two and a half years last week (ISW data)
Ukraine recaptured 201 km² from Russia between last Wednesday and Sunday, taking advantage of a Starlink outage for Russian forces, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War.
The reconquered area is almost equal to Russian gains for the entire month of December and represents the largest area recaptured by kyiv's forces in such a short time since the counter-offensive launched in June 2023.
“These Ukrainian counterattacks likely take advantage of the recent blocking of Russian forces' access to Starlink, which Russian milbloggers say is causing communications and command and control problems on the battlefield,” the ISW said.
With AFP and Reuters
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