Peace talks, POWs exchange, Iran escalation — key events for Ukraine next week
Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from March 2-8. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week.
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The next round of peace negotiations may take place in early March in Abu Dhabi. Earlier this week, a Ukrainian delegation met in Geneva with US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to coordinate positions ahead of the anticipated trilateral talks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated Ukraine’s readiness to end the war, while accusing Russia of lacking a genuine willingness to pursue peace. Previous trilateral negotiations in Geneva failed to produce progress on territorial issues or move the sides closer to a ceasefire.
KI Insights provides a detailed analysis of the Feb. 17–18 talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in its latest Weekly Report.
A new prisoner-of-war exchange between Ukraine and Russia is expected to take place in the near future. According to Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President, negotiations are ongoing, and this time Kyiv hopes to secure the return of a larger number of POWs than during the previous exchange. The most recent swap was held on February 5, when 157 civilians and military personnel were returned to Ukraine.
The Informal meeting of the General Affairs Council will take place on 2–3 March, with discussions focused on the EU’s 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, countering foreign information manipulation and interference, and enlargement policy. The gathering will also include meetings between EU ministers for European Affairs and representatives of Ukraine and Moldova.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a clear timeline for Ukraine’s EU accession, potentially as early as 2027, framing membership as an element of the country’s long-term security guarantees. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, however, has rejected the idea of accelerated accession without conditions, stressing that “full membership comes only after full reforms.”
The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council will convene on 5–6 March. A standing item on the agenda will be the fight against impunity for crimes committed in Ukraine.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are preparing to establish a joint investigative commission to assess the condition of the Druzhba pipeline. Orbán has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to grant the commission access to Ukrainian territory and provide the necessary conditions for its work.
Meanwhile, the European Commission is exploring legal options to bypass Hungary’s opposition and secure a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. The decision was originally approved unanimously by EU member states in December, but Budapest moved to block its implementation last week, casting uncertainty over the package. Restoring full operation of the Druzhba pipeline has emerged as a key Hungarian condition for lifting objections to financing the EU loan package.
Next week marks the expiration of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “10–15 day” deadline for Iran to reach a new agreement on its nuclear program. Talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations in Geneva on Feb. 26 ended without a breakthrough, leaving Washington weighing the possibility of military action against Iran.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has arrived at Israel’s northern coast. Prolonged, large-scale U.S. and Israeli offensive operations against Iran could materially. In the event of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a tail-risk scenario in our assessment – global energy prices could rise sharply.
In the latest episode of Ukraine Insights, Czech President Petr Pavel discusses the state of peace negotiations, the limits of Russian strategy, military support for Ukraine, and why Europe’s security is inseparable from Ukraine’s sovereignty. Watch and listen on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
A meeting of the Verkhovna Rada’s Parliamentary Committee on Digital Transformation is scheduled for 2 March. The agenda includes consideration of the ratification of a financial agreement between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank to support digital emergency response services. The agreement provides a €52 million loan for the nationwide rollout of an emergency assistance system operating under the single number 112.
The National Bank of Ukraine will publish its next Macroeconomic and Monetary Review on 5 March. The report will provide a comprehensive overview of economic activity, inflation dynamics, the external environment, monetary policy developments, and labor market trends in Ukraine.
A meeting of the UN Security Council on the theme “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict”, chaired by US First Lady Melania Trump, will take place on 2 March. Mrs. Trump has been advocating for the return of Ukrainian children unlawfully deported by Russia from occupied territories. The issue is expected to feature prominently on the meeting’s agenda.
Active hostilities continue along the Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad axes in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Russian forces have fully seized the village of Rivne, located near Myrnohrad. They are also advancing along the Siversk axis, northeast of Kramatorsk.
At the same time, Ukrainian counterattacks in the Huliaipole direction are ongoing, with intense fighting reported in the area. Russian troops have also begun preparations for a potential summer offensive, signaling the likelihood of continued escalation in the coming months.
Four years into the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine faces a decisive moment. We examine battlefield realities, Russia’s weakening economy, U.S. pressure, and whether 2026 could bring a ceasefire. Watch and listen on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Events and Milestones:
Next week:
- 1-3 March, Lviv. Offline event: 2026 ANZ-Ukraine Forum. Organized by the Ukrainian community in New Zealand, Mahi For Ukraine, the forum will gather leaders and specialists in defense and military resilience, emergency and crisis response, humanitarian aid, and philanthropy. Register here.
- 3-7 March, Las Vegas, USA. Offline event: CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026. The largest and most influential trade show for construction machinery, equipment, and technologies in North America. More details here.
- 4 March, Luxembourg. Offline event: LUCC 4th Ukraine Resilience Business Forum. Since 2023, the Forum has become a flagship platform for dialogue between Luxembourg, Ukraine, and international partners. Register here.
Further ahead:
- 19 March. Online event: “Ukraine’s next elections: Preparations, Politics, and Pitfalls.” KI Insights monthly briefing, where Senior Political Analyst, Anatoliy Oktysiuk, and Director, Jakub Parusinski, will discuss Ukraine’s push for elections. Subscribers only. Register here.
- 12 March. Online event: How to make Ukrainian CRM projects bankable. This online event will include a panel of ministers, international financiers, and industrial leaders to discuss the steps needed to integrate Ukraine into the Western battery supply chain. Register here.
- 19-20 March, Lviv. Offline event: Safe, Sustainable, and Swift Reconstruction of Ukraine. This conference aims to bring together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, educators, and experts in construction and building materials to exchange knowledge, explore cutting-edge research, and collaborate on innovative solutions for Ukraine's reconstruction. Register here.
If you have an upcoming event that you would like featured in our newsletter, please get in touch via insights@kyivindependent.com.
