{"id":2570972,"date":"2026-02-18T09:04:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zelensky-accuses-russia-of-dragging-out-negotiations-after-peace-talks\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T09:07:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:07:16","slug":"zelensky-accuses-russia-of-dragging-out-negotiations-after-peace-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zelensky-accuses-russia-of-dragging-out-negotiations-after-peace-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"Zelensky accuses Russia of \u2018dragging out negotiations\u2019 after peace talks"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fzelensky-accuses-russia-of-dragging-out-negotiations-after-peace-talks%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2570972&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately delaying negotiations as a new round of U.S.-brokered peace talks ended without a breakthrough toward ending the four-year war. The Geneva talks, led by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and attended by representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, aimed to bridge deep disagreements but stalled. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine needs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mcconnell-and-shaheen-take-bipartisan-whacks-at-biden-and-trump-over-ukraine\/\" title=\"McConnell and Shaheen take bipartisan whacks at Biden and Trump over Ukraine\">guaranteed security<\/a> and a durable peace, while suggesting Russia\u2019s tactic is to drag out talks. Witkoff praised progress under President Trump\u2019s leadership and said parties would stay engaged with another round planned; Putin\u2019s adviser called the talks difficult but businesslike and indicated another session would occur soon. Zelensky also floated the possibility of a ceasefire if Russia holds elections at a Munich security conference, reflecting U.S. pressure on Ukraine to consider elections while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/okeefe-dials-in-to-cnn-conference-call-with-senior-leadership-tells-jeff-zucker-he-will-release-tapes-of-editorial-calls-tonight-zucker-panics-and-hangs-up-video\/\" title=\"O&#039;Keefe Dials in to CNN Conference Call with Senior Leadership, Tells Jeff Zucker He Will Release Tapes of Editorial Calls Tonight - Zucker Panics and Hangs Up! (VIDEO)\">martial law<\/a> remains in effect. The report notes two peace plans on a dual-track approach to the impasse, as the war continues with ongoing attacks and strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and cities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Zelensky accuses Russia of &lsquo;trying to drag out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-past-time-we-bring-back-the-washington-redskins\/\" title=\"It&#039;s Past Time We Bring Back The Washington Redskins\">negotiations&#038;rsquo<\/a>; as US-brokered peace talks stall<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2508399\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Ukrainian President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/volodymyr-zelensky\/\">Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> accused <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\/\">Russia<\/a> of intentionally trying to &ldquo;drag out negotiations&rdquo; and stalling progress as a new round of U.S.-mediated peace talks concluded Wednesday with no breakthrough toward ending the nearly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia-ukraine-war\/\">four-year war<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Peace efforts aimed at halting the conflict that began with Russia&rsquo;s full-scale invasion in February 2022 have stalled repeatedly.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4461255\/zelensky-sanctions-belarusian-president-for-killing-of-ukrainians\/\">Zelensky announces sanctions against Belarusian president for &lsquo;the killing of Ukrainians&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4461218\/eleven-killed-us-southern-command-strikes-on-suspected-narco-terrorist-vessels\/\">Eleven people killed as US Southern Command carries out three more strikes on suspected &#8216;narco-terrorist&#8217; vessels<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4460883\/vatican-rejects-invitation-trump-board-of-peace-united-nations-crisis-manager\/\">Vatican rejects invitation to Trump&#8217;s Board of Peace, insisting on UN as &#8216;crisis&#8217; manager<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Yesterday&rsquo;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,&rdquo; Zelensky <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ZelenskyyUa\/status\/2024055270779846815?s=20\">said in a post on X<\/a>. &ldquo;Ukraine needs guaranteed security and a reliable, lasting peace. That is exactly what we are working for.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/geneva\/\">Geneva<\/a> talks, led by U.S. special envoy <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/steve-witkoff\/\">Steve Witkoff<\/a> and attended by representatives from European countries including the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-kingdom\/\">United Kingdom<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/france\/\">France<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/germany\/\">Germany<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/italy\/\">Italy<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/switzerland\/\">Switzerland<\/a>, aimed to bridge deep disagreements on political and military issues.<\/p>\n<p>Following the meeting, Witkoff praised President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s success in bringing parties together and alluded to progress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;President Trump&rsquo;s success in bringing both sides of this war together has brought about meaningful progress, and we are proud to work under his leadership to stop the killing in this terrible conflict,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SEPeaceMissions\/status\/2023969047730180230?s=20\">Witkoff said in an X post<\/a>. &ldquo;Both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Russian President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vladimir-putin\/\">Vladimir Putin<\/a>&lsquo;s adviser, Vladimir Medinsky, said the two days of talks were &ldquo;difficult but businesslike&rdquo; and that another round of talks should be taking place soon, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/russia-ukraine-war-talks-geneva-0f22fa796cafd6606a88ad1b101ab3fb\">according to the <em>Associated Press<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Zelensky <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4458445\/zelensky-ceasefire-russians-if-they-do-elections-in-munich-plea\/\">touted the possibility of a ceasefire<\/a> if Russia were to hold elections at a high-profile security conference in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/munich\/\">Munich<\/a> last week. Russia&rsquo;s authoritarian system essentially guarantees a Putin victory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The United States has put pressure on Ukraine to hold elections, as the country has been under martial law since the war broke out, and Zelensky said in Munich that he will hold elections when a ceasefire is reached.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-on-defense\/4461276\/two-peace-plans-on-dual-track-to-intractable-impasse\/\"><strong>AS ALL SIDES DIG IN, TWO PEACE PLANS ON DUAL TRACK TO INTRACTABLE IMPASSE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The war continues to take a heavy toll.<\/p>\n<p>Both sides have reported ongoing combat and attacks, with Russia continuing strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and cities along the front line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zelensky: Russia dragging out talks; no deal yet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2570973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Zelensky.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[74016,11860,38128,4280,8630],"class_list":["post-2570972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-dragging-out","tag-negotiations","tag-peace-talks","tag-russia","tag-zelensky"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Zelensky.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2570972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2570972"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2570972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2570977,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2570972\/revisions\/2570977"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2570973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2570972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2570972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2570972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}