Russia announces talks with Ukraine in Geneva
Photo: Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian President (Getty Images)
Russian dictator Dmitry Peskov's press secretary announced that the next round of trilateral talks will take place on February 17-18, according to Russian media.
Read also: Zelenskyy blasts Russia for replacing negotiations with Oreshnik missile threats
"A new round of talks between Russia, the US, and Ukraine will take place on February 17-18 in Geneva," says the Kremlin spokesperson.
According to Peskov, the Russian delegation will be led by the Russian President's aide, Vladimir Medinsky.
In addition, Russian media reports that the aggressor state will be represented by at least 15 people at the Geneva talks.
It is noted that Russia’s negotiating team will include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
What the Ukrainian president’s team says
Adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on communications, Dmytro Lytvyn, told journalists that, as of today, the Ukrainian delegation is preparing for the next round of negotiations.
Later, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, reported that the delegation will include:
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Head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov
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Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andrii Hnatov
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Leader of the Servant of the People faction in the Rada, David Arakhamia
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First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, Sergiy Kyslytsya
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Deputy Head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, Vadym Skibitskyi.
"The team has been formed to cover the military, political, and security aspects of the process. We will work on concrete solutions within the framework set by the Head of State. The goal remains unchanged — a stable and lasting peace," his statement reads.
Medinsky
Former Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky selects the necessary wording for Putin.
In particular, a source close to the Estonian security structures reported that Vladimir Putin has his own ideas, for example, regarding the denial of the existence of the Ukrainian state, but now Medinsky helps to give them ideological form.
In addition, journalists found out that Medinsky, with the help of the Russian Military-Historical Society, which he controls, conducts ideological events in the occupied territories and supports military units.
Medinsky also oversees the promotion of Kremlin ideology to schoolchildren in the post-Soviet space and publishes history textbooks.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte criticized Russia's approach to peace talks with Ukraine. According to him, instead of real dialogue, Vladimir Medinsky, who headed the Russian delegation in Istanbul last year, is engaged in history lessons.
Peace talks on Ukraine
At the end of January and beginning of February 2026, two rounds of talks were held in Abu Dhabi between Ukraine, the US, and Russia. According to Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, the last meeting focused on methods for implementing a ceasefire and monitoring the suspension of hostilities.
Reuters, citing its sources, reported that Ukraine and the US discussed the possibility of reaching a peace agreement with Russia as early as March this year. However, the sources noted that the timeline could be delayed because the issue of territorial disputes has not yet been resolved.
In addition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly stated that the US is proposing to end Russia’s war against Ukraine before the start of summer. He suggested that the Americans would apply diplomatic pressure in line with this schedule.
The Ukrainian president also emphasized that Kyiv is ready to hold negotiations at any location if it would produce real results.
