People gather during a demonstration to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, 24 February 2026. (Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi)

🇺🇦🇺🇸Umerov to hold bilateral talks with Witkoff, Kushner and Bessent in Geneva. According to the Ukrainians, key issues of discussion include a recovery package for Ukraine and preparations for a trilateral meeting involving Russia, roughly in the next 10 days. Prisoner exchanges will also feature high on the agenda.

🇮🇷Iran accuses Trump of ‘big lies’ ahead of Geneva talks in face of major US military deployment. An Iranian official rejected Trump's claims about its missile programme made during his State of the Union address, while another said an agreement could be possible through “honourable diplomacy”.

🦠US accused of ‘shameless exploitation’ over proposed Zambian health aid deal. A leaked draft of a $1 billion memorandum of understanding shows conditions include a 10-year commitment to give Washington access to national health data and reported access to mining concessions.

🕊️UN resolution on Ukraine approved despite US push to water it down. The General Assembly adopted the text on Tuesday, calling for “a just and lasting peace” in Ukraine while rejecting a last-minute proposal from the US to delete two paragraphs from the draft that included references to Ukraine’s “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity”.

❄️Afghans ‘desperate’ as aid cuts bring mass hunger crisis. Lack of resources at agencies like the World Food Programme has left Afghans to fend for themselves in subzero temperatures.