Medinsky holds two-hour closed-door talks with Umerov, Arakhamia after Geneva negotiations

According to her, Medinsky returned to the hotel where the main part of the negotiations took place and met with Umerov and Arakhamia — the meeting lasted up to two hours.

Leaving the hotel, Medinsky told journalists he had indeed met “with the Ukrainian side” — but did not specify with whom and ignored all questions directed at him.

“However, it can be assumed that, since both Umerov and Arakhamia worked within the political subgroup of the negotiating team, the meeting concerned political issues which, as acknowledged by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, remain the most problematic in the negotiation process,” journalists reported.

According to Suspilne, its correspondent encountered Medinsky near the hotel as he was leaving the meeting.

“These negotiations lasted approximately an hour and a half, the topics of conversation are unknown,” the outlet reported.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Feb. 18 that the negotiations were difficult and that progress had been achieved only on military matters. In particular, the sides resolved the issue of monitoring the ceasefire, which will take place with U.S. participation.

According to Axios, the talks “reached a deadlock” due to the Russian side’s position. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, however, said the meetings “led to substantial progress.”

Medinsky described the discussions as “businesslike.”

Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov said the trilateral talks in Geneva were difficult but important.

“The next round of negotiations in Geneva has concluded. The conversation was not easy, but important. Together with the team, we are preparing to continue — in the very near future. We will endure!” he wrote.

On Feb. 18, during a press conference, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said the delegations agreed to hold the next meeting on peace efforts.