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[00:00:00] Geneva is in the spotlight. Ukraine, the [00:00:03] US, and Russia sit at the negotiation [00:00:05] table under enormous pressure. Moscow [00:00:08] refuses to back down, pushing demands [00:00:10] over Donetsk, while continuing strikes [00:00:13] on civilian and energy infrastructure [00:00:15] even during talks. Ukraine is proposing [00:00:18] a temporary energy ceasefire to protect [00:00:21] lives and infrastructure, but the [00:00:23] Kremlin could use it to prepare new [00:00:25] attacks. The US is reinforcing its team [00:00:28] with top military leaders trying to keep [00:00:31] the process on track. Trump precious [00:00:34] gave instead of Moscow pushing for quick [00:00:36] decisions. 2025, the year Trump promised [00:00:40] war over in 24 hours revealed the true [00:00:44] cost. Ukrainian civilians dying more [00:00:47] frequently and Russia hitting harder, [00:00:50] smarter, and more brutally. Meanwhile, [00:00:53] Budapest is blocking new EU sanctions, [00:00:55] testing Western unity and accusing KF of [00:00:58] midling in its elections. [music] What [00:01:00] happened next? Can the talks break the [00:01:02] deadlock? And will Moscow make even the [00:01:05] smallest concessions all in the episode? [00:01:08] Peace at risk. Kremlin told Geneva talks [00:01:11] on Tuesday, February 17th. Geneva is [00:01:14] hosting the third round of trilateral [00:01:16] talks between Ukraine, the US and [00:01:18] Russia. The goal, find a way to end the [00:01:21] full-scale war. Diplomatic pressure is [00:01:24] high with the Trump administration [00:01:26] setting a hard deadline. A final deal [00:01:29] must be signed by June 2026. This was [00:01:33] reported by Reuters. The main obstacle [00:01:36] in the talks remains Moscow's [00:01:37] expansionist ambitions. [music] [00:01:39] The Kremlin demands full control over [00:01:41] Donetsk, a position KF calls completely [00:01:44] unacceptable. Ukraine's delegation is [00:01:46] led by Rustamo Mayor of Secretary of the [00:01:48] National Security and Defense Council [00:01:50] and Presidential Chief of Staff Kurillo [00:01:53] Budanov. Senior presidential AD Sergei [00:01:56] Kislitzia is also participating. Russia [00:01:59] is represented by Vladimir Medinski, a [00:02:02] former cultural minister and revisionist [00:02:04] historian whose soda history is widely [00:02:07] criticized in Ukraine. Also [00:02:09] participating are military intelligence [00:02:12] chief Ihar Kustoov and Putin special [00:02:14] invoic [00:02:16] who are working in a separate economic [00:02:18] group. [music] CNN reports that the US [00:02:20] is reinforcing its delegation with army [00:02:23] secretary Dan Driscoll and US Army [00:02:26] Europe commander Alex Gavage. Army [00:02:29] Secretary Dan Driscoll and US Army [00:02:31] Europe commander Alex Gavage are not new [00:02:34] at the peace process. They previously [00:02:36] participated in trilateral talks in Abu [00:02:38] Dhabi and in meetings between Ukrainian [00:02:41] and US delegations in Miami. Speaking at [00:02:44] the annual Munich Security Conference on [00:02:46] Saturday, President of Ukraine Walanski [00:02:49] says he hopes that Geneva talks will be [00:02:52] serious and substantive. At the same [00:02:54] time, he notes that the side's positions [00:02:57] diverge. also suggests that Russia's [00:03:00] reshuffleling of its negotiation team [00:03:02] may be an attempt to buy time and delay [00:03:05] peace agreement. The surprise is that [00:03:08] the Russians have changed the leader of [00:03:10] their group. I believe they may be [00:03:13] trying to delay a decision, [00:03:16] although I might be somewhat pessimistic [00:03:18] about this. Nevertheless, we are [00:03:21] counting on the American side [00:03:24] and hope they will not allow the [00:03:26] Russians to postpone the process or [00:03:28] restart negotiations from scratch due to [00:03:31] the change in the group's composition. [00:03:34] I think that would be a serious mistake. [00:03:37] I also hope the Americans will not let [00:03:39] the Russians play games in this way. [00:03:42] Trump, however, continue to put pressure [00:03:44] on Ukraine rather than Moscow. Ahead of [00:03:47] the Geneva talks, US President Donald [00:03:49] Trump said Ukraine should quickly sit [00:03:52] down at the negotiation table with [00:03:54] Russia. He spoke to journalists aboard [00:03:56] Air Force One, emphasizing the need for [00:03:59] swift action. [00:04:00] >> Well, they're big talks. It's going to [00:04:02] be uh very easy. I mean, it's look so [00:04:05] far Ukraine better come to the table [00:04:08] fast. It's all I'm telling you. We are [00:04:12] in a position we want them to come. [00:04:14] Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco [00:04:16] Rubio struck a different tone. He [00:04:18] assured that the US was not forcing [00:04:21] either side to sign a peace deal and was [00:04:23] only trying to help the parties reach an [00:04:26] agreement. According to him, a peace [00:04:28] deal was possible because the US could [00:04:30] act as a mediator, something no other [00:04:33] European country could do. The Americans [00:04:35] aimed solely to facilitate the process, [00:04:38] not force anyone to sign. All we are [00:04:41] trying to do is play a role if it's [00:04:43] possible in reaching a deal. We're not [00:04:44] trying seeking to impose a deal on [00:04:46] anybody. We're not trying to force [00:04:47] anyone to take a deal they don't want to [00:04:49] take. We just want to help them because [00:04:51] we think it's a war that's incredibly [00:04:52] damaging. We think it's a war that's [00:04:54] incredibly destructive. We think it's a [00:04:56] war that never should have happened and [00:04:57] should end as soon as possible. During [00:04:59] the ongoing talks in Geneva, the [00:05:01] Ukrainian side raised the issue of [00:05:03] another temporary held to attacks on [00:05:06] energy infrastructure. National Security [00:05:08] and Defense Council Secretary Rustam [00:05:10] Umeov had stated on February 14th that [00:05:13] the three-way talks with the US and [00:05:16] Russia would address the possibility of [00:05:18] a new short-term energy ceasefire to [00:05:20] reduce damage to civilian [00:05:22] infrastructure. At the same time, [00:05:24] analysts warned that Russia could use [00:05:27] any temporary moratorium on strikes [00:05:30] against energy targets to create the [00:05:32] appearance of willingness to make [00:05:34] concessions. According to the US-based [00:05:37] Institute for the Study of War, Moscow [00:05:39] had previously imposed temporary poses [00:05:42] on attacks in March, April 2025 and [00:05:46] January, February 2026, using these [00:05:48] poses to stockpile drones and missiles [00:05:51] for subsequent destructive strikes. [00:05:54] Specifically during the moratorium on [00:05:56] certain Ukrainian energy facilities in [00:05:58] January February this year, Russia [00:06:00] agreed to pose strikes only after [00:06:02] causing serious damage to Ukraine's [00:06:05] energy network. Analysts noted that [00:06:08] Moscow would likely again present [00:06:10] compliance with any future short-term [00:06:12] moratorum as a significant concession [00:06:15] even though the Russian military would [00:06:17] use the period to build up weapons for [00:06:19] larger strike packages. Experts at the [00:06:22] institute also emphasize that Russian [00:06:25] officials are unlikely to abandon their [00:06:27] initial military demands during the [00:06:29] three-way talks between the US, Ukraine, [00:06:31] and Russia these days. Moscow has [00:06:34] repeatedly demonstrated full commitment [00:06:36] to achieving these objectives. So [00:06:39] significant concessions should not be [00:06:41] expected during [music] the meeting. [00:06:43] Meanwhile, Trump's promise on peace in [00:06:45] 24 hours turned into a bloody year for [00:06:48] Ukraine. 2025 casualty statistics [00:06:52] shattered any illusion of a quick end to [00:06:55] the war. Despite US President Donald [00:06:57] Trump's statements, 2025 became one of [00:07:00] the deadliest years for Ukrainian [00:07:03] civilians. Civilian deaths rose by 26% [00:07:06] and Russian attacks grew more deliberate [00:07:09] and brutal. This was reported by The [00:07:11] Independent. According to the human [00:07:13] rights organization, action on armed [00:07:16] violence, civilian casualties in Ukraine [00:07:18] rose by 26% last year. There were 14,775 [00:07:24] casualties compared to 11,765 [00:07:29] in 2024, including 2,250 [00:07:33] deaths, up to 11% from the previous [00:07:37] year, and 2525 [00:07:40] injured, at 28% [00:07:43] increase. Russian strikes increasingly [00:07:46] targeted civilians deliberately to [00:07:48] maximize casualties. Before taking [00:07:51] office in January last year, Donald [00:07:53] Trump had promised to end the war in 24 [00:07:56] hours. CNN calculated that he repeated [00:07:58] this claim 53 times during his campaign. [00:08:03] Later the US president said he spoke [00:08:06] figuratively as Moscow's continue [00:08:08] massive night attacks in eastern [00:08:10] Ukraine. Ahead of Geneva peace talks, [00:08:13] Russia continued its strikes on Ukraine, [00:08:15] ignoring diplomatic efforts. Ukrainian [00:08:18] foreign minister Andrea reported that [00:08:20] the main targets were energy and [00:08:22] civilian infrastructure. He stressed [00:08:24] that Moscow only responds to pressure [00:08:26] and that new sanctions blocking shadow [00:08:29] fleets and travel restrictions for [00:08:31] participants in the aggression remains [00:08:33] critical. [00:08:36] >> The extent to which Russia disregards [00:08:38] peace efforts, a massive missile and [00:08:40] drone strike against Ukraine right [00:08:42] before the next round of talks in [00:08:44] Geneva. main targets, energy and [00:08:47] civilian infrastructure. Moscow only [00:08:49] understands the language of pressure. It [00:08:51] will not take diplomacy seriously if it [00:08:53] is not backed by strength. New sanctions [00:08:56] packages are critical. Blocking shadow [00:08:59] fleet. Maritime services ban. Entry ban [00:09:02] for participants of Russian aggression. [00:09:05] Only our unity and strength will bring [00:09:07] an end to this war. On February 17th, [00:09:09] Russia carried out massive missile and [00:09:11] drone strikes across Ukraine, including [00:09:13] the west of the country. Explosions were [00:09:16] reported in Adessa Neproises and Bour in [00:09:19] Odessa. The strikes damaged the [00:09:21] infrastructure facility and several [00:09:23] civilian buildings leaving three people [00:09:25] injured. In Nepro, a fire broke out [00:09:27] damaging a private business [00:09:29] administrative buildings, homes, and [00:09:31] vehicles. Hungarian Prime Minister [00:09:33] Victor Orban said K had openly [00:09:36] interfered in Hungaria's inflection [00:09:38] campaign which opposes Ukraine's EU [00:09:41] membership including by directly [00:09:43] supporting the opposition. He made the [00:09:45] remarks at the joint briefing with the [00:09:47] US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who is [00:09:49] visiting Budapest. [00:09:50] >> The Ukrainians and the presidents [00:09:54] obviously have entered into the [00:09:56] Hungarian election campaign. For a while [00:09:59] I was thinking whether we should take [00:10:00] that on the wrong note or not. I mean [00:10:04] with such brutal open centering into the [00:10:07] election campaign of another country is [00:10:10] not very frequent. You don't see that [00:10:12] often. But then again I realized it was [00:10:15] understandable because the Hungarian [00:10:18] elections is the most important to [00:10:20] Hungarian people but it has an impact [00:10:22] beyond Hungary as well. According to [00:10:24] him, the Hungarian people in 2025 vote [00:10:27] clearly rejected Ukraine's EU [00:10:29] membership, arguing it would drag [00:10:32] Hungary into the war and damage its [00:10:34] economy. The current government also did [00:10:36] not plan to send funds to Brussels that [00:10:39] could then be forwarded to Ukraine. At [00:10:41] the same time, Orban claimed that the [00:10:43] Ukrainians wanted to see a new [00:10:45] government willing to accept Ukraine's [00:10:47] EU membership and take on its financial [00:10:50] burden. He also accused the Ukrainian [00:10:52] authorities of supporting his political [00:10:54] opponents. [00:10:55] >> For the Ukrainians, it doesn't matter uh [00:10:58] what the outcome of the elections will [00:10:59] be. Therefore, they decided to [00:11:00] participate in the campaign. And since [00:11:02] we stand on the ground of common sense, [00:11:04] we must not be surprised at that. We [00:11:06] must adapt to it. Um and we must [00:11:09] acknowledge that the Ukrainian president [00:11:12] and Ukraine will be an active [00:11:13] participant of this election and we have [00:11:16] to uh prevail against them too. That is [00:11:19] our reality. Hungarian Prime Minister [00:11:21] Victor Orban not only accuses Ukraine of [00:11:24] interfering in parliamentary elections [00:11:26] but is also blocking the introduction of [00:11:28] a new sanctions package against Russia. [00:11:31] According to Political, the new [00:11:32] restrictions on Moscow could face [00:11:34] resistance from Budapest. The European [00:11:36] Union is currently finalizing its 20 [00:11:39] sanctions package against Russia. The [00:11:41] report says the final decision on the [00:11:44] sanctions package will come after two [00:11:46] meetings of EU ambassadors in the [00:11:48] corporate 2 format. EU foreign policy [00:11:51] and security chief Kayak Kalis had [00:11:53] previously said the new sanctions [00:11:55] against Russia should be adopted by [00:11:57] February 21st. Given the tight timeline, [00:12:00] diplomats could meet again in the coming [00:12:02] days. [music] Political notes that the [00:12:04] EU is seeking to strengthen sanctions [00:12:07] with the help of the UK. Diplomats aim [00:12:09] to coordinate measures against Russia's [00:12:12] shadow fleet and ban maritime services [00:12:14] for tankers carrying Russian oil and [00:12:16] gas. The also wants to block loopholes [00:12:19] that Russia has been actively exploding. [00:12:22] According to political you sanction [00:12:24] special envoy David Oalivan is working [00:12:26] with partners outside the EU and is [00:12:28] expected to visit Kyrgystan soon. At the [00:12:31] same time, progress on the package is [00:12:33] slowed by Hungary. Diplomats say [00:12:35] Budapest insists on removing certain [00:12:38] officials from Russian sports [00:12:39] organization from the sanction list [00:12:42] which could delay adoption. Earlier on [00:12:44] February 6th, European Commission [00:12:46] President Osulaferion presented the 20 [00:12:49] package of sanctions. She emphasized [00:12:51] that the EU would target [00:12:53] cryptocurrencies and trading companies [00:12:55] as well as platforms that facilitate [00:12:57] their exchange to close avenues for [00:13:00] sanctions evasion. That's all for today. [00:13:03] Thank you for watching and don't forget [00:13:04] to subscribe to our channel and leave [00:13:06] your comments below.