Russia will expand its delegation for talks in Geneva on Feb. 17–18 and intends to discuss territorial issues, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, said, according to Russian state media.
Peskov said the Russian delegation at the upcoming talks will be broadened and that negotiators plan to address a “wider range of issues” compared with meetings in Abu Dhabi, including territories.
Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky will continue to head the Russian delegation. Peskov said Medinsky did not take part in the meetings in the United Arab Emirates because those discussions allegedly focused on security matters.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and GRU chief Igor Kostyukov will also join Russia’s delegation in Geneva.
Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev will likewise participate in the talks but will work “on a separate track,” Peskov said.
A new round of trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States is scheduled for Feb. 17–18 in Geneva. On Feb. 16, it was reported that the Ukrainian delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, had already departed for Switzerland.
Earlier, Peskov said the Russian delegation would be headed by Medinsky. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the change in head of Russia’s delegation indicates Moscow’s intention to delay making an important decision.
During talks in Abu Dhabi, Russia’s delegation was led by GRU chief Igor Kostyukov.
The new round of peace negotiations had previously been expected to take place in the United States.
