Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s chief negotiator, leaves the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, 18 February 2026. Photo: EPA / Martial Trezzini The second day of trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US in Geneva ended early on Wednesday afternoon without any significant breakthrough, according to independent news agency Interfax Ukraine.

A billboard in Moscow urges Russians to enlist in the newly created Unmanned Systems Forces, 17 February 2026. Photo: EPA / Maxim Shipenkov Students at St. Petersburg State University have been offered bonuses worth €550 for enlisting to serve in the Russian military, independent St. Petersburg media outlet Bumaga reported on Wednesday.

Valery Zaluzhny. Photo: Neil Hall/EPA Valery Zaluzhny. Photo: Neil Hall/EPA The Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK, former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny gave an interview to the Associated Press, in which he spoke about the conflict with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Conflict with Zelensky According to Zaluzhny, the conflict between him and Zelensky began shortly after the start of a full-scale war and reached its peak in the fall of 2022.

Vladimir Putin. Photo: EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL A relative of Vladimir Putin owns a stake in the Russian tech giant VK, which in turn owns the new state-backed “everything app” MAX, independent investigative journalist Andrey Zakharov claimed on Wednesday. Zakharov said that although VK had a complex ownership structure, its accounts for the first half of 2025 showed that its shareholders included the insurance company Sogaz.

How did the negotiations on Ukraine go in Geneva? There is still no progress on the main issues of territories and security guarantees Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky after the completion of the second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine mediated by the United States in Geneva, Switzerland, February 18, 2026.

Could recent military activity in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region signal a fresh Russian advance? Damaged buildings in Orikhiv, in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, 12 February 2025. Photo: EPA / Oleg Movchaniuk The Russian army is continuing to pile on the pressure on the frontline near the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, which will soon be within artillery range from recently captured territory.

Monologue of a military man about what he saw with his own eyes Due to problems with money, Anatoly (name changed), according to him, wanted to go on rotational work to Novaya Zemlya, but ended up in the trenches of Donbass. For refusing to fight, he was sent to the pit, but after beatings, he agreed to go to the front line. What did the deserter see with his own eyes and why did he decide to flee from the “front line”? Watch this monologue especially for Novaya Gazeta Europe.

A woman walks past the entrance of the Memorial Human Rights Center in Moscow, 7 October 2022. Photo: EPA / Maxim Shipenko The Russian Justice Ministry has placed the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Memorial Human Rights Centre on its list of “undesirable” organisations, independent Russian radio station Ekho FM reported on Wednesday.

The documentary film “Traces,” which tells about Ukrainian women who survived sexualized violence at the hands of Russian soldiers, was shown at the Berlinale Photo: Alisa Kovalenko / Berlinale At the Berlinale, in the documentary section of the second most important program “Panorama”, the premiere of the film “Traces” by Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikityuk took place.

Photo: Kremlin press service Vladimir Putin’s cousin Mikhail Shelomov owns a stake in the VK holding, which owns the “national messenger” Max, investigative journalist Andrei Zakharov found out . According to him, VK has a complex ownership structure, but the report for the first half of 2025 indicates that among the shareholders is the insurance company Sogaz. Before the start of the war in Ukraine, Shelomov owned 12.47% of the insurer's shares through his St. Petersburg company Accept.

Photo: Mediazona A Russian military court in the western Siberian city of Omsk has sentenced two minors to seven years in prison for setting fire to a Mil Mi-8 helicopter at a military airfield, state-affiliated news agency Interfax reported on Wednesday. The court found the defendants guilty of terrorism and sentenced the two minors, who have not been named, to seven and seven and a half years in prison.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, 14 February 2026. Photo: EPA / Ronald Wittek Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he is coming under unfair levels of pressure from US President Donald Trump to make further concessions to Russia in order to bring about an end to the war in Ukraine.

Russian authorities continue to block Telegram, while simultaneously limiting propaganda opportunities. Soviet officials also struggled with radio Radio "VEF Radio" (Riga, 1972), presented at the opening of the Museum of Radio and Television, Moscow, March 27, 2024. Photo: Vasily Kuzmichenok / AGN “Moscow” For Russian citizens, Telegram has long been more than just a messenger.

Photo: Erdem Sahin/EPA During negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Geneva on February 17, the parties “came to an impasse” due to the position of the head of the Russian negotiating team, Vladimir Medinsky, Axios reports , citing sources. According to one of the interlocutors, the Russian side complained about public statements by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

By slowing down telegrams, the Kremlin deprived residents of freezing Belgorod of not only warnings about shelling, but also peace of mind for the fate of loved ones Photo: Novaya Gazeta Europe “During the entire period of our communication with you, my telegram channel has been the main source of information, primarily that relating to your safety.