Territories and wide range of issues: Kremlin reveals what will be discussed in Geneva
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the upcoming Ukrainian-US-Russian talks in Geneva will cover a broader range of issues than the Abu Dhabi talks and will include the issue of territories.
Source: Russian propaganda news agencies TASS, RIA Novosti and RBC
Quote: "This time [the negotiators are planning] to discuss a wider range of issues, including, in fact, the main issues. The main issues that concern both territories and everything else."
Details: Peskov added that in addition to Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky, the Russian delegation at the Geneva talks will include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Igor Kostyukov, head of Russian military intelligence (GRU). He emphasised that Medinsky remains the head of the Russian delegation.
"Why didn't he [Medinsky] take part in the previous two rounds [in Abu Dhabi – ed.]? Because there they were talking about security issues, issues that directly concerned the military. Therefore our group was headed by Kostyukov, and the group consisted of military [representatives]," the Kremlin spokesman explained.
Peskov said Vladimir Putin is in "constant contact with the negotiators", who received "detailed instructions" from him on the eve of their departure.
Background:
- On 13 February, the Kremlin stated that the Russian delegation at the talks would be headed by Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky, who was not part of the Russian negotiating team when the trilateral talks resumed in the UAE at the beginning of this year.
- The new round of talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia in Geneva on 17-18 February was announced by Rustem Umierov, the head of the Ukrainian delegation.
- Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the teams would discuss the territorial issue during the new round of negotiations.
- On the night of 15-16 February, Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President's Office, reported that the Ukrainian delegation had departed for the negotiations in Geneva.
- On 16 February, Russian media outlets reported that Switzerland will ensure safe flight for the Russian delegation.
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