diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Actions/ChatsActions.swift b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Actions/ChatsActions.swift
index debeb1e..b247cd2 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Actions/ChatsActions.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Actions/ChatsActions.swift
@@ -2,4 +2,9 @@ enum ChatsAction: Codable {
     case chatsListUpdated(chats: [Chat])
 
     case startChat(accountJid: String, participantJid: String)
+    case chatStarted(chat: Chat)
+
+    case createNewChat(accountJid: String, participantJid: String)
+    case chatCreated(chat: Chat)
+    case chatCreationFailed(reason: String)
 }
diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/ChatsMiddleware.swift b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/ChatsMiddleware.swift
index 2e76ba1..a3cfd82 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/ChatsMiddleware.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/ChatsMiddleware.swift
@@ -11,14 +11,24 @@ final class ChatsMiddleware {
 
         case .chatsAction(.startChat(accountJid: let accountJid, participantJid: let participantJid)):
             return Future<AppAction, Never> { promise in
-                // find existing chat
-                let exist = state.chatsState.chats.first {
-                    $0.account == accountJid && $0.participant == participantJid
+                if let exist = state.chatsState.chats.first(where: { $0.account == accountJid && $0.participant == participantJid }) {
+                    // open existing chat
+                    promise(.success(.chatsAction(.chatStarted(chat: exist))))
+                } else {
+                    // create new chat
+                    promise(.success(.chatsAction(.createNewChat(accountJid: accountJid, participantJid: participantJid))))
                 }
-                promise(.success(.empty))
             }
             .eraseToAnyPublisher()
 
+        case .chatsAction(.chatCreated(let chat)):
+            return Just(.chatsAction(.chatStarted(chat: chat)))
+                .eraseToAnyPublisher()
+
+        case .chatsAction(.chatStarted(let chat)):
+            // TODO: make transition to chat screen
+            return Empty().eraseToAnyPublisher()
+
         default:
             return Empty().eraseToAnyPublisher()
         }
diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/DatabaseMiddleware.swift b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/DatabaseMiddleware.swift
index abef39f..362236a 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/DatabaseMiddleware.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Middlewares/DatabaseMiddleware.swift
@@ -125,6 +125,31 @@ final class DatabaseMiddleware {
             }
             .eraseToAnyPublisher()
 
+        case .chatsAction(.createNewChat(let accountJid, let participantJid)):
+            return Future<AppAction, Never> { promise in
+                Task(priority: .background) { [weak self] in
+                    guard let database = self?.database else {
+                        promise(.success(.chatsAction(.chatCreationFailed(reason: L10n.Global.Error.genericDbError))))
+                        return
+                    }
+                    do {
+                        try database._db.write { db in
+                            let chat = Chat(
+                                id: UUID().uuidString,
+                                account: accountJid,
+                                participant: participantJid,
+                                type: .chat
+                            )
+                            try chat.insert(db)
+                            promise(.success(.chatsAction(.chatCreated(chat: chat))))
+                        }
+                    } catch {
+                        promise(.success(.chatsAction(.chatCreationFailed(reason: L10n.Global.Error.genericDbError))))
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            .eraseToAnyPublisher()
+
         default:
             return Empty().eraseToAnyPublisher()
         }
diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Reducers/ChatsReducer.swift b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Reducers/ChatsReducer.swift
index 9fadaab..393c61c 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Reducers/ChatsReducer.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/Reducers/ChatsReducer.swift
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ extension ChatsState {
         case .chatsListUpdated(let chats):
             state.chats = chats
 
+        case .chatStarted(let chat):
+            state.currentChat = chat
+
         default:
             break
         }
diff --git a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/State/ChatsState.swift b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/State/ChatsState.swift
index d83fd39..469aef8 100644
--- a/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/State/ChatsState.swift
+++ b/ConversationsClassic/AppCore/State/ChatsState.swift
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 struct ChatsState: Stateable {
     var chats: [Chat]
+    var currentChat: Chat?
 }
 
 // MARK: Init