Ukraine ready to hold new round of talks with Russia in US on Feb. 17-18. Moscow yet to confirm

Reported Facts

Observable data points shared across all narratives

•Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine is ready to hold a new round of talks with Russia around 17–18 February.
•Ukrainian and Western outlets report that this next round is envisaged as trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.
•Regional and Western sources state that the proposed venue for the 17–18 February talks is in the United States.
•Russian state and pro‑government outlets report that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that a new round of talks on Ukraine is scheduled for the following week.
•Russian official sources have said that Russia expects the next round of negotiations on Ukraine to take place soon but have tied the formal announcement of time and place to certain conditions.
•Russian media report that there is "some understanding" between the parties regarding a new round of talks on Ukraine.
•Regional and Western sources report that Zelenskyy has said Ukraine has backed US peace proposals aimed at reaching a deal with Russia.
•Middle Eastern media report that deadly drone strikes have occurred in parallel with, and are affecting the atmosphere around, US‑brokered Russia‑Ukraine talks in Geneva.

Narrative Split

How different information blocks interpret these facts

Moscow cautious on venue, terms

Russian outlets depict Moscow as open to negotiations but insistent that timing and location must reflect its conditions and security interests rather than US preferences. They frame the US‑brokered format and proposed US venue as potentially biased, arguing that Russia will only confirm details once there is clarity on the agenda and guarantees that its positions are respected. These sources suggest that Western calls for special envoys and US‑centered diplomacy risk sidelining Russian interests and could limit the talks’ durability.

•Russian media claim the Kremlin expects the next round of negotiations on Ukraine to take place soon and that Peskov has acknowledged "some understanding" on a new round.
•They emphasize that the Russian Foreign Ministry has set conditions that must be met before announcing the exact time and place of new talks with Ukraine.
•They argue that proposals to hold the talks in the United States reflect Washington’s attempt to control the negotiation framework and marginalize Russia’s preferred formats.
•They highlight European discussions about appointing a special envoy for Ukraine talks as evidence of fragmented Western diplomacy that does not fully account for Russian security concerns.
•They assert that Moscow will not confirm a US venue or specific dates until it is satisfied that the agenda includes Russian priorities, such as sanctions relief and security guarantees.

REGIONAL

Kyiv backs US peace track

Regional outlets frame Ukraine as proactively endorsing US peace proposals and pushing for firm dates and venues to lock Russia into a diplomatic process. They portray Moscow as hesitant to confirm US‑hosted talks, suggesting Russia is using procedural ambiguity to retain leverage while the war and domestic political timelines in Ukraine continue. These sources suggest that securing a concrete negotiation framework, alongside EU accession commitments and eventual elections, is central to Kyiv’s strategy for a sustainable settlement.

•Regional sources claim Zelenskyy has formally backed US peace proposals as the basis for a potential deal with Russia.
•They assert that Ukraine has agreed to a new trilateral round with Russia and the US on 17 or 18 February in the United States and is waiting for Moscow’s confirmation.

WEST

US-led talks enable ceasefire, vote

Western outlets present the US‑brokered talks as a necessary step toward a ceasefire that would allow Ukraine to hold credible elections and advance EU integration. They frame Zelenskyy’s acceptance of US peace proposals and willingness to negotiate in the US as evidence of Kyiv’s commitment to a rules‑based settlement, contrasting this with Russia’s delay in confirming participation. These sources suggest that anchoring talks in a US or Western setting increases pressure on Moscow and could produce a framework for both a ceasefire and a future peace referendum or vote in Ukraine.

•Western media report that Zelenskyy has accepted US peace proposals and is preparing for talks on 17 or 18 February in the United States.
•They claim Zelenskyy has stated that national elections in Ukraine can only occur after a ceasefire and security guarantees, which the talks are intended to secure.

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