FLASH NEWS
About 4 years since the start of the war/ The US, Ukraine and Russia sit down for negotiations in Geneva, here's what to expect
2026-02-16 16:20:14 / BOTA
After two rounds of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, Kiev, Washington and Moscow will meet in Geneva on Tuesday for two days of negotiations.
The meeting takes place just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia's total war.
The delegations are gathering as fierce fighting continues along the nearly 1,250-kilometer front line and amid relentless Russian bombing of civilian areas and energy infrastructure, which left millions of Ukrainians without electricity, water and heating in the freezing February weather.
According to Kiev, there is little hope that Russia will stop or at least reduce the pace and intensity of its air strikes.
On Monday, as the Ukrainian delegation left the capital Kiev, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was preparing for another "massive attack."
Zelenskyy said he had instructed the head of Ukraine's air force, the defense minister and the head of state power company Ukrenergo to "prepare additional defensive measures" throughout the day ahead of a possible attack.
"Even on the eve of the trilateral meetings in Geneva, the Russian military has no other orders than to continue attacking Ukraine," he wrote.
"This speaks volumes about how Russia views its partners' diplomatic efforts."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the talks in Geneva would cover a "broader range of topics" than previous rounds in Abu Dhabi.
According to Peskov, the delegations will specifically discuss the most complicated issue: the territories of Ukraine.
"This time, we intend to discuss a wider range of issues, including the main issues related to territories and everything else. These issues are related to our demands. The presence of chief negotiator (Vladimir) Medinsky is necessary here," Peskov said.
Putin aide Medinsky has a history of maximalist rhetoric, and his return marks a potential strengthening of Moscow's negotiating position. It could further signal that Moscow intends to continue its formal participation in the negotiations without any intention of producing tangible results.
Medinsky is an ardent supporter of Russia’s full-scale occupation of Ukraine. In January 2025, he was the editor of a new textbook, “Military History of Russia,” which presents Moscow’s war against Ukraine as a continuation of the Soviet war against Nazi Germany and describes Russia’s war as a “necessary response to Western threats.”
And as early as 2013, he said that Russia's "perseverance" in the face of all the catastrophes of the 20th century shows that the Russian people "have an extra chromosome."
The US has reportedly signaled to its Russian counterparts that it would prefer to limit the involvement of hardliners like Medinsky in the peace process.
Happening now...
ideas
Rama's game with Belinda's three revocable resignations!
Nga Irena Beqiraj
The food mafia in Albania, more dangerous than drug traffickers….
Nga Kreshnik Spahiu
top
Alfa recipes
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128