No fresh start for Russia in talks: Zelenskyy on new head of Russian delegation

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"The surprise is that the Russians changed the head of their negotiating group. I think they want to postpone decision-making," the Ukrainian leader said.

He added that Ukraine, together with the US, will not allow Russia to restart negotiations from scratch under the pretext of changing the head of its delegation.

Upcoming talks and possible timelines for ending the war

Ukraine, the US, and Russia have already held two rounds of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. The third meeting is scheduled for February 17–18 next week.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that this time the Russian delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Vladimir Putin.

Russian media reported that Putin will also send Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, known for his hardline and aggressive foreign policy stance.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said it is still difficult to comment on Medinsky's participation, noting that at previous talks the Putin aide delivered "pseudo-historical lectures."

National Security and Defense Council secretary Rustem Umerov also confirmed plans for the Geneva meeting, saying Zelenskyy has approved the composition of the Ukrainian team. The delegation will include the same members who participated in the Abu Dhabi talks.

According to the Ukrainian president, the upcoming meeting will discuss how a monitoring mission would operate in the event of a ceasefire. Ukraine will also raise the issue of a new energy truce.

In addition, Zelenskyy has recently publicly stated that the US wants the war in Ukraine to end by June. Media reports have suggested that the parties discussed reaching a peace agreement with Russia as early as March, and that Kyiv has begun preparations for presidential elections and a referendum on a potential peace deal.