STORY: Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva ended abruptly on Wednesday (February 18) after only two hours, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying that the discussions had been "difficult" and accusing Russia of deliberately seeking to delay progress toward a deal to end the four-year-old war.

The U.S.-mediated peace talks in Switzerland have been taking place as U.S. President Donald Trump has twice in recent days suggested it was up to Ukraine and Zelenskiy to take steps to ensure the talks were successful.

"Yesterday's meetings were indeed difficult, and we can state that Russia is trying to drag out negotiations that could already have reached the final stage," Zelenskiy wrote on X on Wednesday, following media reports that the first day of talks had been tense.

Minutes after Zelenskiy's comments, Russia's state news agency RIA reported that the talks had ended. Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky told reporters in the lobby of the hotel where talks took place in Geneva that further negotiations would be held soon, without specifying a date.

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Russian delegation leaves Geneva hotel at end of Ukraine talks

VIDEO SHOWS: RUSSIAN DELEGATION CONVOY DEPARTING GENEVA HOTEL AFTER TRILATERAL TALKS WITH UKRAINE, U.S.

COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW

SHOWS: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (FEBRUARY 18, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. RUSSIAN DELEGATION CAR (ENDING 73) ARRIVING AT INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL FOR DEPARTURE CONVOY

2. HEAD OF RUSSIAN DELEGATION FOR TALKS, VLADIMIR MEDINSKY, WALKING OUT OF HOTEL

3. OFFICIALS WALKING OUT OF HOTEL

4. RUSSIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA, GENNADY GATILOV, WALKING TOWARDS CAR, GETTING INTO CAR

5. VARIOUS OF CONVOY LEAVING INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL