Moscow [Russia], February 17: Russia intends to negotiate with Ukraine about territorial issues during two days of talks starting on Tuesday in Geneva, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
Peskov said that the presence of chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky "will be necessary," Russian media reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed the former culture minister as Russia's negotiator, but he is criticized in Ukraine as an unserious interlocutor.
Though he has previously held talks with the Ukrainian side, Medinsky was absent from negotiations in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.
Peskov said Medinsky was absent because the discussions dealt with military matters, which are not part of his portfolio. The new round in Geneva has an expanded format, the Kremlin says, and will include Russia's military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
A solution to the war in Ukraine is not yet in sight. To Moscow's annoyance, Kiev has refused to cede control of territories claimed by Russia, including in the Donetsk region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly warned that Putin should not be given any gifts in negotiations. Before the talks in Geneva, Galuzin addressed a Putin proposal to put Ukraine temporarily under UN administration.
Moscow was ready to discuss this with the United States, European and other countries, Galuzin told the Russian state news agency TASS.
Source: Qatar Tribune
