By Micah Jonah
February 16, 2026
Ukrainian officials have departed for Geneva, Switzerland, for a fresh round of negotiations aimed at ending the four-year war with Russia, even as fighting intensifies on multiple fronts.
Ukraine’s Chief of Staff, Kyrylo Budanov confirmed the trip in a message posted on Telegram, sharing a photograph of himself alongside members of the delegation before departure. He said the talks would focus on drawing lessons from history and seeking “the right conclusions” as discussions resume.
The Geneva meeting follows two earlier rounds of United States-brokered negotiations held in the United Arab Emirates in January and early February. Those sessions marked the first direct public talks between Moscow and Kyiv under a peace initiative proposed by former US President Donald Trump.
Although both Russia and Ukraine described the previous meetings as constructive, no significant breakthrough was achieved.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism ahead of the Geneva talks, saying he hoped the discussions would be “serious” and “substantive.” However, he criticized what he described as repeated pressure on Ukraine to consider concessions.
“The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia,” Zelenskyy said.
One of the most contentious issues remains the future of eastern Ukraine, particularly the Donbas region, large areas of which are under Russian control. Moscow is demanding that Kyiv withdraw its troops from the region and recognize territories it has annexed, conditions Ukraine has firmly rejected. Kyiv has instead proposed freezing the conflict along current front lines while securing firm international guarantees against future attacks.
As diplomacy continues, both sides are stepping up military operations. Ukrainian authorities reported carrying out a large-scale drone strike on energy infrastructure in western Russia. In response, Bryansk region governor, Alexander Bogomaz said Russian air defences intercepted more than 220 drones in attacks that lasted over 12 hours, temporarily disrupting heating supplies.
Meanwhile, Russia’s army chief, Valery Gerasimov, claimed that Russian forces had captured 12 settlements in eastern Ukraine this month, covering approximately 200 square kilometres. He said the offensive was ongoing in multiple directions.
In Moscow, public enthusiasm for the talks appears muted, with many residents reportedly sceptical about the prospects for a swift resolution after earlier rounds failed to resolve core territorial and security disputes.
The Geneva negotiations are expected to test whether diplomatic momentum can outpace developments on the battlefield as both nations seek leverage in one of Europe’s most protracted conflicts in decades.
