The article explores the ongoing negotiations concerning a possible meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a source, progress has been made in the military subgroup during trilateral discussions in Geneva, but no significant movement has occurred in the political subgroup. The outcome of the political negotiations is crucial in determining how the military group's preparations will be implemented, emphasizing the necessity of a high-level leaders' meeting as a likely next step.

In an interview on February 17 with Axios, Zelensky acknowledged that he had instructed his negotiation team to bring up the topic of a future summit between the leaders. He expressed that a personal encounter with Putin could be the best way to achieve breakthroughs regarding territorial issues. This highlights the increasing urgency for direct dialogue amidst a complex diplomatic landscape and ongoing military tensions.

Furthermore, BBC News Ukraine reports that following the formal closure of the negotiations in Geneva on February 18, Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinski met with Umerov and the Ukrainian delegation to discuss the way forward. This meeting illustrates the importance of dialogue even in times of heightened tensions and the potential for further discussions at the leaders' level to chart a path toward resolution.