Russia, US Discuss Root Causes of Ukrainian Conflict in Geneva

Lavrov says Moscow will discuss understandings reached in Alaska during talks with Americans

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that during the Geneva talks on Ukraine, Moscow and Washington continued discussion of the "Alaska Summit understandings" aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict. Lavrov emphasized that these understandings are based on the recognition of the need to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and respect the decision of people in Donbass to reunite with Russia.

Why it matters

The talks in Geneva are part of ongoing efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian conflict, which has been a major source of tension between Russia and the West. The discussions around the "Alaska Summit understandings" suggest that both sides are trying to address the underlying issues driving the conflict.

The details

According to Lavrov, the "Alaska Summit understandings" recognize that Ukraine should not join NATO and that the decision of people in Donbass to reunite with Russia should be respected. The Russian Foreign Minister stated that these requirements have been recognized and he hopes they will continue to be recognized based on the understandings reached in Alaska.

  • The Geneva talks on Ukraine were held on February 17-18, 2026.
  • The first round of trilateral consultations between Russia, the US, and Ukraine took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24, 2026, and the second round was hosted by the same venue on February 4-5, 2026.

The players

Sergey Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister who stated that Moscow and Washington discussed the "Alaska Summit understandings" during the Geneva talks on Ukraine.

Vladimir Medinsky

The head of the Russian delegation in the Geneva talks, who said the negotiations were difficult but businesslike and that the next meeting will be held soon.

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What they’re saying

“We will discuss the understandings reached in Alaska during our talks with the Americans in Geneva. They are based on the recognition of the root causes of the conflict and the need to remove them.”

— Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (TASS)

“No NATO membership for Ukraine, and no attempts to overturn the decision of the people in Donbass, who chose to reunite with Russia amid their total discrimination in Ukraine, when the Kiev regime adopted laws aimed at eradicating everything Russian and canonical Orthodoxy.”

— Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (TASS)

What’s next

The next meeting between Russia, the US, and Ukraine will be held soon, according to Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky.

The takeaway

The discussions in Geneva suggest that Russia and the US are trying to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian conflict by addressing the underlying issues, such as Ukraine's potential NATO membership and the status of Donbass. The talks are part of ongoing efforts to de-escalate the tensions between the two sides.