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Türkiye is closely following the planned negotiating track at the upcoming Geneva negotiations on Ukraine and considers continued dialogue important for reaching a draft peace treaty, a Turkish diplomatic source told Russian media outlet RIA Novosti on Monday, Feb. 16.
"The negotiations between Russia, the U.S. and Ukraine are important for continuing dialogue, through which the parties may reach a draft future peace treaty. We expect the parties will reach it," the source said.
Russia will address territorial issues and other key demands at the upcoming Geneva negotiations on Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, as Moscow expanded its delegation for talks scheduled for Feb. 17-18.
"This time it is intended to discuss a wider spectrum of questions, including, actually, the main issues that concern both territories and everything else. These are connected with our requirements," Peskov told reporters at a press briefing.
He said the broader agenda requires the presence of chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, who was absent from previous rounds held in Abu Dhabi that focused specifically on security matters.
The Russian delegation will include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov alongside Medinsky, Peskov confirmed.
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev will also participate, working separately within an economic cooperation group with the United States.
Ukrainian presidential office head Kyrylo Budanov also announced Monday that Ukraine's delegation has departed for Switzerland.
"Heading to Geneva. The next round of negotiations is ahead," Budanov wrote on Telegram, posting a photo of himself and two delegation members in front of a train carriage.
"Ukraine's interests must be protected."
The talks mark the third round of trilateral consultations this year. Initial security discussions took place in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23-24, followed by a second round at the same venue on Feb. 4-5.
Deputy Foreign Minister Galuzin said Sunday that Russia is ready to discuss UN-supervised external control of Ukraine as a possible solution to the conflict.
"Generally, Russia is ready to discuss with the U.S., European and other countries the possibility of introducing temporary external management in Kyiv," Galuzin told Russian state news agency TASS.
He argued UN-supervised control would enable "democratic elections" in Ukraine and the signing of a "full-fledged peace treaty," citing similar U.N. transitional administrations previously established in Eastern Slavonia, East Timor and Cambodia.
Ukraine has previously rejected the idea of UN-supervised external control and dismissed Russian accusations questioning the legitimacy of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government after his term expired in May 2024.
Galuzin called on Kyiv to hold elections, claiming Russia would ensure no strikes occur on voting day.
Zelenskyy has demanded a two-month ceasefire before holding any vote.
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