Story perspectives

Zelenskyy Doubts Geneva Talks Amid Ongoing Russian Losses

2/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned the Geneva talks, citing drone strikes that caused casualties.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not concede territory in the Donbas and warns against repeating past mistakes with Russia.
Russia faces heavy losses, with estimates of 30,000–35,000 casualties monthly, while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov maintains unchanged demands.
The talks are set to begin February 17–18 amid low progress expectations.

History

Historical Context

The Geneva Summit of November 1985 marked a pivotal moment in U.S.-Soviet relations, as President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev sought to ease Cold War tensions. This meeting followed the Soviet Union's costly military involvement in Afghanistan, which had resulted in over 1 million casualties since 1979. Today, Ukraine's resistance in the Donbas reflects ongoing challenges in achieving lasting peace with Russia.

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Story summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned the Geneva talks, citing drone strikes that caused casualties.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not concede territory in the Donbas and warns against repeating past mistakes with Russia.
Russia faces heavy losses, with estimates of 30,000–35,000 casualties monthly, while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov maintains unchanged demands.
The talks are set to begin February 17–18 amid low progress expectations.

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