Ukraine peace talks hinge on territory, US ambassador to NATO says
Photo: US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker (Getty Images)
The most complex problem in the Ukraine-Russia talks remains the question of territories. The two countries have to reach an agreement on it to end the war, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told Fox News.
Read also: Ukrainian delegation head makes first statement on Geneva talks with Russia
He emphasized that terms should be found that will be acceptable to Ukraine and Russia.
“It's down to, as Steve Witkoff (US president’s special envoy, – ed.) said a couple of weeks ago, really one issue, and that is territories. But that's gonna be the trickiest, toughest issue. So, we're gonna continue to work it,” Whitaker emphasized.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO @MattWhitaker46 weighs in as separate Iran and Ukraine-Russia talks get underway in Geneva, with territory expected to be a key issue and questions mounting over what it will take to secure a peace deal ahead of the war’s fourth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/LwSHcCALoc
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) February 17, 2026
The US ambassador stressed that the war must end, but added that these are very complex, complicated matters.
Being asked at what stage these negotiations are, he described the talks as productive.
"Well, expect productive talks in Geneva. But obviously, it's gonna take both sides to come up with a way that they can agree to end this war,” he said.
Geneva talks
Another round of trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17–18.
Rustem Umerov, Ukrainian team head, said earlier that during the trilateral talks on Feb. 17–18, the Ukrainian side plans to raise the issue of an energy ceasefire.
In January and early February 2026, several rounds of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were held in Abu Dhabi with US mediation.
No significant breakthrough in ending the war was achieved, but the parties agreed on a prisoner exchange, the first in five months.
