Ukraine's President Zelensky tells reporters that they've agreed to continue peace discussions, adds that talks were difficult and positions are different for now

President Zelensky's acknowledgment of ongoing but challenging peace discussions indicates a tentative step towards dialogue, though significant divisions remain.

Newsquawk StaffPublished 18 Feb 2026, 10:55 UTCOn the live feed at 10:35 UTC — 3 more headlines followed before this page went public

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10:45

UK Chancellor Reeves reiterates that the UK will take defense spend past 2.6% in future budgets

10:42

[MARKET UPDATE] Crude futures edge higher amid wider airing of the Axios reports that the Trump administration is closer to a major war with Iran than people realise; WTI and Brent April both at fresh session highs

10:35

Ukraine's President Zelensky tells reporters that they've agreed to continue peace discussions, adds that talks were difficult and positions are different for now

10:32

The Trump administration is closer to a major war with Iran than people realise, Axios reports citing sources; a military operation would likely be a massive, weeks long campaign that will be a joint US-Israeli attack

10:32

Head of Ukrainian delegation says negotiations were substantive and there was progress; a number of issues were clarified

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Both sides will discuss political issues in new talks.

Context

This situation is crucial as it could influence regional stability, impacting assets such as the euro or commodities related to the conflict, while raising questions about the durability of such negotiations.

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Recent headlines that moved markets

ENERGY/3 Sept · 08:03 UTC

Russian President Putin says that Russia and Ukraine should agree first; he notes that there is an opportunity to reach a peace agreement.

with Brent Nov, after we published−1.3%

Energy prices fell following Russian President Putin's more conciliatory comments.

EQUITIES/3 Sept · 04:54 UTC

North Korea stripped references to "peaceful unification" with South Korea from the charter of its ruling Workers' Party of Korea, according to Yonhap.

Equity indices, after we published−3.3%

EQUITIES/1 Sept · 16:17 UTC

Initial reports of an American attack on Iran, reports i24's Stein.

ES, after we published−0.2%

ENERGY/1 Sept · 16:17 UTC

Initial reports of an American attack on Iran, reports i24's Stein.

- Brent (V6), after we published+1.2%

METALS/1 Sept · 08:06 UTC

Two oil supertankers were reportedly hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, reports citing Marisks suggest (details light)

Spot Gold, after we published−1.0%

FX/28 Aug · 14:00 UTC

Fed Chair Warsh says Fed has more work to do unless confident underlying inflation is moving towards 2% objective

DXY, after we published+0.5%

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