Territories and wide range of issues: Kremlin reveals what will be discussed in Geneva

Iryna Balachuk, Iryna Hrychyshkina - 16 February, 12:34

Peskov. Photo: Kremlin

Kremlin leader's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that a broader range of issues will be discussed at Ukrainian-Russian-US talks in Geneva compared to talks in Abu Dhabi and parties will, among other things, discuss territories.

Source: Russian propaganda news agencies TASS, RIA Novosti and RBC

Quote: "This time [negotiators are planning – ed.] to discuss a wider range of issues, including, in fact, main issues. Main issues that concern both territories and everything else."

Details: Peskov added that the delegation of the Russian Federation at upcoming talks in Geneva, in addition to Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky, will include "[Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail] Galuzin, [Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor] Kostyukov and others", and stressed that Medinsky has remained head of the Russian negotiators' delegation.

"Why didn't he [Medinsky – ed.] take part in the previous two rounds [in Abu Dhabi – ed.]? Because there it was about security issues, issues that directly concerned the military. Therefore our group was headed by Kostyukov, and the group consisted of the military," the Kremlin spokesman explained.

Peskov also noted that Vladimir Putin is in "constant contact with negotiators", and that on the eve of departure the Russian delegation received "detailed instructions" from him.

Background:

On 13 February, the Kremlin stated that the Russian delegation at the talks would be headed by Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky. It should be noted that Medinsky was not part of the Russian negotiating team when the trilateral talks resumed at the beginning of the year in the UAE.
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 Ukrainian 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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