Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky speaks by video link with the British commentator Piers Morgan, February 18, 2026

Wednesday’s Coverage: “Practical Issues” But No Details In Ukraine-Russia-US Talks

UPDATE 0752 GMT:

Former Ukraine military commander-in-chief Valerii Zalushnyi — a likely frontrunner in a future Presidential election — has spoken at length about serious disputes with President Voloydmyr Zelensky’s office.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Zaluzhnyi claimed the State security service SBU tried to raid his Kyiv office in mid-September 2022, as Ukrianian forces were liberating parts of the east and south of the country in a historic counter-offensive.

Now Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK, Zalushnyi said SBU agents arrived while British military officers were present. They did not explain what they were looking for, and he refused to let them inspect documents or computers.

The commander-in-chief called Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak and said, “[I will] repel this attack, because I know how to fight.” He stressed that he was prepared to involve the military if necessary.

Zalushnyi called SBU head Vasyl Malyuk, who said he knew nothing about the search.

In a statement released after the interview, the SBU said it was conducting searches at numerous addresses as part of an investigation into organized crime. One of the addresses had recently been used as a concealed backup command post for Zaluzhnyi. The SBU insisted it conducted no searches or investigative actions at that address, saying Malyuk and Zaluzhnyi spoke “immediately and personally” and resolved the matter.

Zalushnyi blamed Zelensky and his officials for the failure of the 2023 counter-offensive, saying they did not allocate the necessary resources.

He said that the plan relied on massing forces into a “single fist” to liberate the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine, severing Russia’s land corridor to occupied Crimea.H However, troops were dispersed across a broad front, blunting the counter-offensive.

Despite the criticisms, Zaluzhnyi said he and Zelensky have met twice since the commander-in-chief was dismissed in February 2024, and had “absolutely friendly” conversations.

He rebuffed deflected questions about his political future: “Until the war is over or martial law ends, I am not discussing this and have done nothing toward that.”

UPDATE 0659 GMT:

Following the threat of US secondary sanctions, India is continuing to reduce its imports of Russian oil.

Moscow’s shipments in January were the smallest portion of India’s imports since late 2022.

The world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, India sharply increased its intake of Russian oil after the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Volumes topped 2 million barrels per day in some months.

However, last November the US sanctioned Russia’s largest oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft, with punishment of their customers. The Trump Administration raised its tariff level on India from 25% to 50%, citing the Russian imports.

At the end of January, after India and the European Union announced a trade deal, Donald Trump declared an end to the Russian surcharge and a reduction of the tariff level to 18%.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the outcome of Ukraine-Russia-US talks in Geneva is “not sufficient” to end Moscow’s 4-year full-scale invasion.

In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky summarized the third set of talks, conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The President added detail in a series of posts on Thursday morning, explaining that the “military group” in the discussions is “closer to complete negotiations…than on the political one”.

The military representatives discussed details and technical aspects and capabilities of a monitoring mission for the ceasefire, he said. The Americans “will play a leading role”. However, there is a “difficult discussion about the role of the Europeans” — presumably because of Russian objections.

“I underline time and again that I think that we also need European representatives,” Zelensky emphasized.

In contrast, the Russians continued to press their demands in the talks’ “political group”. Zelensky gave fewer details than on the military side; however, he pointed to the risk of the US and Russia reaching a bilateral agreement over Ukraine’s future inside or outside of NATO.

I know that Americans, and maybe some Europeans, are discussing a new document with Russia, between NATO and Russia. When they have such a document, they can discuss everything. But for me, it’s important that they discuss our potential place in NATO with us. Not just with the Russians – with us. Because it’s about us….

In any case, we will react to surprises if they happen.

He then expressed frustration about the Kremlin’s stalling as it maintains maximalist terms for Ukraine’s capitulation:

I don’t need historical shit to end this war and move to diplomacy. Because it’s just a delay tactic. I read no less history books than Putin. And I learned a lot. I know more about his country than he knows about Ukraine. Simply because I have been to Russia – to many cities. And I knew a lot of people there. He has never been to Ukraine this many times….

But there is security. There is a big war waged against us. This is our lives. The only thing that I want to speak about with him is that I think that we need to resolve it in the most successful way. I mean to end this war quickly.

The President added his assessment of how Putin is failing to conquer Ukraine despite having the second-most powerful military in the world.

“Incremental Progress” on Military Side; None on Political Side

Other officials echoed Zelensky’s assessment.

One told CNN that military representatives made “incremental but significant progress” over the supervision of a ceasefire. However, political negotiations remained “tense”.

“Two sources with knowledge” told Axios that negotiations in the political group were “stuck” because of the Kremlin’s positions, presented by Vladimir Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky.

One said the Russians complained about Zelensky’s recent public statements. They claimed the Ukrainian President wasn’t seriously negotiating, but trying to boost his popularity domestically ahead of possible elections.

Medinsky said the political negotiations were “difficult, but businesslike”.

“Three informed sources” told The New York Times that the proposal of a demilitarized, “free trade” zone in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine was discussed.

However, one official said the two sides were far from agreement.

President Zelensky reiterated on Tuesday that Ukraine is ready to pull back the 22% of Donetsk it controls, if Russia does the same in occupied areas. However, the Kremlin continues to demand that it be given all of the strategic region.