(GENEVA, SWITZERLAND) – Russia has put forward a proposal for the removal of Ukraine’s elected leadership and the introduction of international “external administration” as negotiations with Kyiv show little sign of progress, according to statements from Russian officials and analysts.
The idea was outlined by senior diplomats as talks resumed in Europe for the first time in nearly four years of full scale war. Moscow has argued that placing Ukraine under temporary international supervision could pave the way for elections and a peace agreement.
Negotiations formally opened this week in Geneva, but Russian officials made last minute changes to their delegation. Vladimir Medinsky replaced intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov as head of the Russian team.
Analysts said the move was intended to signal flexibility while shifting the focus from military security to political and ideological issues. They added that this could delay substantive progress and allow the Kremlin to argue that security questions had already been resolved.
The Russian side said the change reflected a broader agenda. It argued that earlier talks focused on military matters, while the current phase would cover political and social issues, including long term arrangements.
A central dispute remains over territory. Moscow says it wants to discuss borders directly, while Kyiv has reiterated that any changes must comply with Ukrainian law and international standards, including possible public consultation.
At the same time, Russia has continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, reducing expectations of a rapid breakthrough. Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov suggested that Russian negotiators could face “history lessons” during talks.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has also revived the idea of placing Ukraine under external control after the end of what Moscow calls its “special military operation”. Officials said such a mechanism, under the auspices of the United Nations, would enable “democratic elections” and the formation of a “viable government”.
The proposal echoes remarks made in 2025 by Vladimir Putin, who suggested that international administration could be considered for Ukraine. Russian diplomats said they were ready to discuss the idea with the United States and European partners.
However, they acknowledged that no clear UN mechanism exists for such a process. Critics said this raised doubts about the seriousness of the proposal, noting that Moscow has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine is already under foreign influence.
Alongside diplomatic manoeuvres, Russia is facing growing domestic pressures. Official data show a decline in job vacancies, with employers reporting about 1.5 million openings in December 2025, down 13 per cent year on year. Unemployment rose to 2.2 per cent.
Recruitment service SuperJob said vacancies in 2025 fell by 12 per cent, while the number of jobseekers increased by 19 per cent. Economists attributed the trend to slowing business activity, layoffs in construction and logistics, and labour losses linked to mobilisation.
In Central Asia, uncertainty surrounded the health of Tajik leader Emomali Rahmon after weeks of limited public appearances. Speculation followed photographs showing him with Chinese official Xi Jinping and banking chief Zou Jiayi.
The Tajik presidency has denied reports of illness. Rahmon later released a video congratulating China on the Lunar New Year, but rumours continued in regional media.
In Europe, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said energy supplies had become a tool of political pressure. He previously accused Ukraine of threatening Slovakia’s energy security, but recent Russian strikes on infrastructure have complicated that narrative.
Fico also signalled interest in closer nuclear cooperation with the United States and proposed a multinational project for a new power unit by 2040, suggesting a gradual shift away from dependence on Moscow.
In neighbouring Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán received strong backing from US Senator Marco Rubio, who described his leadership as important for American interests. The remarks came amid election campaigns in both countries.
Russian state media has also intensified criticism of German Ukrainian drone cooperation announced at the Munich Security Conference. Commentators linked the project to historical grievances and repeated accusations against Western governments.
The reaction followed official German statements accusing Russian authorities of responsibility for the death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, which Moscow has denied.
Western intelligence agencies have meanwhile warned of renewed covert activity linked to networks once associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Financial Times reported that former Wagner recruiters were seeking vulnerable individuals in Europe to carry out sabotage and violent acts.
According to the report, Russian intelligence services are increasingly relying on unemployed people, criminals and migrants for arson, surveillance and vandalism. Officials said many plots had failed, undermining operational effectiveness.
In East Asia, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un opened a new residential complex in Pyongyang for families of soldiers killed abroad. State media showed him attending the ceremony with his daughter Ju Ae, fuelling speculation about succession.
Western and Ukrainian sources have previously said North Korea sent thousands of troops to support Russia in 2024, with heavy casualties reported.
Back in Russia, a cultural dispute erupted in the Lipetsk region over plans to burn a Labubu effigy during Maslenitsa celebrations. Parents complained that the character was popular with children and unsuitable for symbolic destruction.
Organisers defended the decision, citing earlier burnings of fictional villains as part of what they described as cultural “cleansing”.
