Feb 19, 2026, 4:48 p.mFeb 19, 2026, 4:48 p.m
Russia will continue to reject European participation in the peace negotiations as requested by Ukraine.
Russia sees no point in European representatives taking part in the talks, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. Several senior European officials were also present in the background at the talks between Ukrainians, Russians and US mediators in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.Image: sda
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the Europeans for their support and called for a stronger role for them in the negotiation process. Russia sees this as a maneuver by Zelensky to drag out the talks.
“Europeans are not represented at the negotiating table, they are not involved in the negotiation process at all, moreover, the vast majority of positions expressed in European capitals contribute to the continuation of the war rather than to attempts at a peaceful settlement,” Peskov said. The negotiations should continue in the current format between Russians and Ukrainians under US mediation. There is no date or location yet, it was said in Moscow.
Moscow sees the Europeans as a warring party
Because of the arms deliveries to Kiev, Moscow accuses the Europeans of being a party to the war and of relying on the continuation of the fighting – until Russia is defeated. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galusin, who was involved in the negotiations, said that it was difficult to imagine European participation, especially since they themselves said they wanted to be there because they were paying for the war. Galusin said the West should not worry about financing the war, but rather look for paths to peace.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.Image: www.imago-images.de
So far, no agreement on an end to the war is in sight in the negotiations because Russia does not see its maximum demands being met. Moscow is demanding that Kiev withdraw its troops from those parts of Donbass that remain under Ukrainian control. Zelenskyj categorically rejects this – and sees no chance that the Ukrainian population would agree to giving up territory, even in the event of a referendum.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine will enter its fifth year next week. (sda/dpa)