Kremlin Wants to Exclude European Representatives in Ukraine Talks
“No, it's only a trilateral format, meaning Russia, America, and Ukraine. There won't be any Europeans there,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a media briefing, rejecting the possibility that the EU or other international institutions would be involved.
The Feb. 17-18 meeting is part of a mediation effort led by Washington and follows earlier contacts aimed at advancing negotiations. Peskov said Russia’s delegation will be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.
Earlier the same day, the spokesman confirmed that an agreement had been reached to convene talks “next week,” though he initially withheld further specifics.
Previous US-brokered discussions were held in Abu Dhabi in January and again earlier this month. Those meetings led to the first prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kiev in five months.
Momentum for a new round of talks grew after negotiations on Feb. 4-5. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in remarks published Wednesday that the next discussions were expected on Feb. 17-18 in Geneva. His communications adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, also confirmed the timing and venue to Ukrainian media, including the state news agency Ukrinform.
US officials have not publicly responded to Peskov’s latest comments. Meanwhile, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov said preparations are already underway on Kyiv’s side.
Umerov stated that the delegation will include himself, presidential office head Kyrylo Budanov, and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov. The team was assembled “taking into account the military, political, and security components of the process,” he said.
“We will work on substantive decisions within the framework defined by the head of state. The goal remains unchanged – a sustainable and lasting peace. We are preparing for serious and responsible work,” he added.
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