The Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Geneva to participate in the next round of negotiations with representatives from the United States and the Russian Federation. This was reported by the head of the President’s Office, Kyrylo Budanov, on the night of February 16.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“On the way to Geneva. Ahead – the next round of negotiations. On the road, we will discuss the lessons of our history with colleagues, seeking the right conclusions. Ukraine’s interests must be protected.”
Main Topics of Negotiations in Geneva
The meeting is expected to take place on February 17-18. The Kremlin has confirmed these dates and noted that the Russian delegation will be led by the assistant to the President of Russia, Vladimir Medinsky, who represented Russia in last year’s negotiations. At that time, the Russian delegation effectively refused a ceasefire, demanded recognition of the occupied territories as Russian, and insisted on limiting the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte previously criticized Medinsky for a lack of a constructive approach.
Previous Agreements and Positions of the Parties
The last negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United States, took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24 and February 4-5. There was no significant breakthrough regarding the end of the war; however, on February 5, the parties agreed on a prisoner exchange – the first in the last five months.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff characterized the discussions in Abu Dhabi as “constructive and focused on how to create conditions for lasting peace.” According to him, the issues of a ceasefire were discussed during the negotiations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported after the negotiations on February 4 that the number of open questions regarding the peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia had decreased, but emphasized that the “most difficult” issues remain unresolved. Earlier, on January 28, he highlighted that among these is the territorial issue.
In January, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the territorial issue within the so-called “Anchorage formula” is a priority for Russia; however, the content of this formula has not been disclosed by the Russian side. According to Reuters, it concerns maintaining Russia’s control over the entire Donbas and “freezing” the front line in other areas. At the same time, the Kremlin constantly refers to allegedly reached agreements between Russia and the United States at the U.S.-Russia summit in Anchorage in August 2025, although no official information about such agreements has been received.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized on January 25 in Vilnius that Kyiv’s position on territories remains unchanged and that all parties must be ready for compromises. He also stated that bilateral security guarantees from the U.S. are already ready for signing. In December, Zelensky noted that the issue of possible territorial solutions should be determined by the Ukrainian people – through elections or a referendum.