Kremlin Confirms Ukraine Talks in Geneva on February 17-18

Ukraine talks in Geneva are set to resume on February 17-18, the Kremlin confirmed Friday, as diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year war continue without a clear breakthrough.

According to Russian officials, the upcoming negotiations will follow the same trilateral structure involving representatives from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said preparations are underway and further logistical details would be announced shortly.

The new round follows two previous meetings facilitated by Washington that failed to produce tangible progress. Despite sustained diplomatic engagement, Moscow and Kyiv remain deeply divided, particularly over territorial control.

In a notable shift, Russia’s delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior Kremlin aide and former culture minister who previously headed negotiations during earlier stages of the conflict. Recent talks had been attended primarily by senior military officials.

The United States has been actively encouraging renewed discussions in an effort to bring the war closer to resolution. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intention to push for a settlement to the conflict, which began when Russia launched a large-scale military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022.

However, core disagreements remain unresolved. Russia continues to demand significant territorial and political concessions from Kyiv. Ukrainian officials have firmly rejected those demands, arguing that they would amount to surrendering sovereignty.

One of the most contentious issues is control of eastern Ukraine, particularly the Donetsk region. While Russian forces control large portions of the territory, Ukrainian troops maintain positions in parts of the region. Moscow has called for a full Ukrainian withdrawal, a proposal Kyiv has refused to accept.

Ukraine has instead emphasized the need for strong security guarantees from Western partners as a condition for any potential ceasefire agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated earlier this week that Kyiv had agreed to participate in further talks proposed by the United States.

The conflict has resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers killed or wounded and tens of thousands of civilian deaths. It is widely considered Europe’s most devastating war since the end of World War II.

Russia currently controls approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, as well as areas in eastern and southern Ukraine seized before and after the 2022 invasion.

As the next round of Ukraine talks in Geneva approaches, expectations remain cautious. Analysts say any meaningful progress will depend on whether the two sides can narrow differences over territory and security guarantees — issues that have stalled negotiations from the outset.