Geneva meeting to have broader agenda than Abu Dhabi talks, including territories - Peskov

MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - The Ukraine talks in Geneva will have a broader agenda than the previous consultations in Abu Dhabi, which is why the Russian delegation will be larger, and presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Interfax asked Peskov at a press briefing to comment on the changed composition of the Russian delegation to the Geneva talks and Medinsky's return as the delegation head.

"Let us recall Putin's statement, which he made on numerous occasions, saying that Medinsky is the head of the Russian negotiating delegation. Putin made such a statement before the first round in Abu Dhabi, during it and afterwards. Medinsky has remained the head of our negotiating delegation," Peskov said.

Medinsky did not attend the consultations in Abu Dhabi "because they addressed security issues, the matters directly concerning the military, so our group there was led by [Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate chief Igor] Kostyukov and consisted of military personnel," he said.

"This time, it is planned to discuss a broader range of issues, including the main issues concerning territories and everything else related to our demands. That requires the presence of our chief negotiator, Medinsky," Peskov said.

"The delegation will be larger this time. Besides Medinsky, it will include {Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail] Galuzin and others," he said.

He gave an affirmative answer to the question about whether Kostyukov would be a delegation member.