Ukraine sets stage for another round of talks with Russia
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
A new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia with the participation of the US is planned for this week, according to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, at the Justice Conference.
Read also: Witkoff speaks on Zelenskyy–Putin meeting and gives potential deadline
When Ukraine and Russia meets again?
Yesterday, media reports said that negotiations would take place on February 26. According to Budanov, this is indeed the tentative date for the new meeting.
"I think it has already been officially announced that it will be around the 27th, give or take a day or two. So the 26th falls completely within this time frame," he says.
However, the final date of the meeting has not yet been agreed upon, the head of the President's Office notes.
"We are currently in the process of preparation. This is a matter of protocol, as you understand. When, who will come, and so on. All three parties have to agree on this. Four parties, in fact, including the host," Budanov explains.
Is meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin possible?
Journalists also asked the head of the Presidential Office whether a meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia would take place. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself had previously insisted on this meeting to resolve the key issue of the negotiations - the issue of territories.
"We don't know yet. We raised this issue," Budanov replies, adding that the Russian side has not yet given a final answer.
Kyrylo Budanov announces another round of talks with Russia pic.twitter.com/eswgptvzmO
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) February 23, 2026
Ukraine-Russia talks
Last week in Geneva, the third round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia since the beginning of 2026 took place. As Zelenskyy reported, the parties have made progress on the issue of monitoring the ceasefire, but have not made any progress on the political track.
The issue that remains unresolved is control over the unoccupied territories of Donbas. Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from there, while Ukraine insists on a freeze along the front line. The US proposes creating a free economic zone there.
The next round of talks, as Zelenskyy has stated, may also take place in Switzerland.
In addition, after the meeting in Geneva, the Ukrainian President announced a new prisoner exchange.
