During the latest U.S.-mediated talks in Geneva on February 17–18, 2026, Kyiv and Moscow discussed a proposal to create a demilitarized zone in the Donbas, potentially managed by a joint Russian-Ukrainian civilian administration. The plan would have involved withdrawing both Ukrainian and Russian troops from parts of the region and establishing a civilian authority potentially staffed by representatives from both sides.

Axar.az, citing Kyiv Independent, reports that Ukrainian officials rejected the proposal, calling it unrealistic and unacceptable, as it would require Ukrainian forces to abandon fortified positions in Donetsk Oblast, effectively ceding control to Russia. Lawmakers and President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that sovereignty over Donbas cannot be compromised, with Zelensky emphasizing, “This is our land…our people, our flag, and our control.”

Kyiv maintains that freezing current front-line positions offers the only viable basis for a ceasefire, while Russia continues to demand Ukrainian withdrawal as a precondition for any agreement.

Previous proposals, including arrangements for autonomy, frozen status quo agreements, and demilitarized zones with foreign peacekeepers, have also failed to materialize, highlighting the persistent deadlock over the region.

While Moscow rejects the presence of NATO or foreign troops in Donbas, the latest round of talks produced one point of agreement: if a ceasefire is achieved, the United States would take the lead in overseeing monitoring, a development Zelensky called an important success.