TASS FACTBOX. The upcoming round of negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement is scheduled to begin in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17, 2026. As previously announced by Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the expanded Russian delegation will be headed by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky. These Geneva talks will cover a broader range of issues than those discussed in Abu Dhabi, including territorial matters.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict began almost immediately after the onset of Russia’s special military operation in late February 2022. Initial discussions took place in Belarus and later in Istanbul, Turkey. The Russian delegation was led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, while Ukraine was represented by David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction in the Verkhovna Rada. Following the Istanbul negotiations, a draft agreement was initialed, which included Ukraine’s pledge to maintain a neutral, non-aligned status. However, all such agreements were ultimately blocked by Kiev and its Western allies, with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson playing a particularly active role.
Subsequently, the negotiation process was halted. In October 2022, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky enacted a decision by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to suspend negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine also sought Western support, including security guarantee agreements with Britain, Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Japan, and others.
