Kyiv: Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced cautious optimism over renewed peace negotiations with Russia, expected to take place this week under mediation from the United States, while warning that Ukraine is being asked to shoulder disproportionate concessions.
Speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian president stressed that any path to ending the war must rest on clear security guarantees for Ukraine. His remarks come as US President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to broker a settlement to Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
Recent rounds of negotiations mediated by Washington in Abu Dhabi were described as constructive but yielded no breakthrough. Delegations from the three sides are now scheduled to meet again in Geneva for further discussions.
During the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio @SecRubio, I briefed him on the situation at the front, Russian strikes, and the impact of attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. We discussed how to help Ukraine protect lives during the winter cold and strengthen our… pic.twitter.com/WMuAvJ5yiS
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 14, 2026
Zelenskyy said he hopes the upcoming talks will be ‘serious’ and ‘substantive,’ but acknowledged deep divisions remain. Zelenskyy noted that US officials frequently return to the issue of concessions, often focusing on Ukraine rather than Russia.
The Ukrainian leader also called for a greater European role in negotiations, arguing that the continent’s absence from the table undermines prospects for a durable settlement.
Key sticking points
Among the most contentious issues is Moscow’s demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw fully from parts of the eastern Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control. Ukraine has rejected a unilateral pullback and insists on long-term Western security guarantees to deter future aggression.
Zelenskyy revealed that Washington has proposed security assurances lasting 15 years, while Kyiv is seeking commitments of at least 20 years. Zelenskyy added that Russian President Vladimir Putin opposes any deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine, which Kyiv sees as a critical deterrent.
Ukraine is also pushing for a monitored ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange. Zelenskyy estimated that Russia holds about 7,000 Ukrainian soldiers, while Ukraine has more than 4,000 Russian personnel in custody.
Pressure and diplomatic tensions
Zelenskyy acknowledged feeling some pressure from Trump to seize the opportunity for peace, while urging allies to intensify sanctions on Moscow and expand military support to Kyiv.
Zelenskyy also expressed concern over Russia’s decision to change its delegation for the Geneva talks, now to be led by Kremlin adviser Vladimir Medinsky instead of military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov, suggesting it may signal attempts to delay progress.
In his speech, Zelenskyy warned against repeating historical mistakes, drawing parallels to pre-World War II appeasement policies and arguing that peace cannot be secured by territorial concessions. The upcoming Geneva talks are seen as a critical test of whether diplomatic efforts can finally halt the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
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