On February 20, 2026, Ukraine observed the Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, a date established by a presidential decree in 2015 to honor the sacrifices made during the Revolution of Dignity. President Volodymyr Zelensky, alongside First Lady Olena Zelenska, participated in memorial events to pay tribute to those who lost their lives.
During a press briefing, President Zelensky announced that negotiations in Geneva had led to a potential agreement for a prisoner exchange in the coming days. He also indicated that a new round of peace talks is scheduled to take place within ten days in Geneva, where progress has been made regarding monitoring ceasefire conditions, primarily involving the United States.
However, Zelensky noted that no advancements were made concerning territorial disputes during the trilateral discussions. In an interview with Kyodo News, he expressed hopes for defense collaboration with Japan, particularly in air defense systems, while highlighting the presence of 10,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia.
He firmly rejected any proposals for troop withdrawal from eastern Donbas as part of a peace agreement, emphasizing that negotiations with Russia are ongoing. Zelensky characterized Russian demands for further territorial occupation as ultimatums that Ukraine cannot accept.
Looking ahead, a meeting of the Coalition of Willing is set for February 24, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer via video conference, aimed at supporting Ukraine.
In Paris, during events organized by the International Energy Agency, Ukraine secured over €600 million for the restoration of its energy system and agreements for acquiring used equipment for repairs of thermal power plants.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga confirmed the country’s commitment to maintaining momentum in the negotiation process and expressed interest in conducting another round of talks following the Geneva meeting.
In military developments, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported 51 combat engagements with Russian troops since the start of the day, with significant activity noted in the Pokrovsk, Hulyaipole, and Kostiantynivka directions. Ukrainian forces successfully targeted several command posts and military supply areas in the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk, and Crimea.
Additionally, the Ukrainian military reported the destruction of Russian armored vehicles and the capture of two Russian soldiers attempting to infiltrate Ukrainian lines in the Lyman area.
As the conflict continues, the Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted 107 out of 128 drones launched by Russian forces in a recent attack.
In terms of humanitarian impact, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains operational on a single external power line after a backup line failed over a week ago. Russian drone strikes targeted energy facilities in the Myrhorod district, causing damage but no casualties.
On the domestic front, the Austrian Federal Minister for European and Foreign Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, visited Kyiv, signaling Austria’s readiness to host a future conference on Ukraine’s recovery.
Ukraine is also discussing the transfer of equipment from decommissioned power stations in Vienna, with Ukrainian specialists currently evaluating compatibility and logistics.
In a recent development, the Ukrainian government announced a pilot project for electronic receipts, with initial participation from banks and retail chains starting February 20, 2026.
As the situation evolves, Ukraine remains focused on international collaboration and support to address the ongoing challenges posed by the conflict.
On February 20, 2026, Ukraine commemorated the Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes while engaging in diplomatic efforts to resolve ongoing conflict issues. President Zelensky announced potential progress in prisoner exchanges and upcoming peace talks, amidst continued military engagements with Russian forces.
