On February 21, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that his forces had liberated 300 km² of territory in the south from Russian troops. However, negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, mediated by the United States, are stalled over the fate of the Donbass region, an industrial area in the east that Ukraine refuses to cede. Russia and the U.S. are reportedly urging Ukraine to abandon the Donbass to end the conflict. In other developments, Russian bombardments in Odessa damaged a school and four residential buildings, injuring one person. The Ukrainian air force intercepted 106 out of 120 drones launched by Russia overnight. Zelensky also noted ongoing connection issues with Starlink for the Ukrainian army, though he stated Russian forces face more severe problems.