The first part of the fourth round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ended today in Istanbul, after three hours. And as reported by the Russian negotiators, for the first time since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine the talks seem to have entered "a concrete phase".
The Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia promised to "drastically reduce military activity" in Kiev and Chernihiv to "increase mutual trust and reach new negotiations to sign a peace agreement".
And according to Ukrainian sources, the chances of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky are also increasing, although as specified by the head of the Moscow delegation it will be possible but "after a draft treaty is reached between the parties".
"We will continue our negotiations with Russia but we will also involve the guaranteeing countries", added the head of the Ukrainian delegation, David Arakhmia.
If the system of guarantees for the security of Ukraine, proposed to Russia, were to "work", the government of Kiev would accept the status of "neutrality", Arakhmia specified. With neutrality, he clarified, there would be no foreign bases in Ukraine And therefore Ukraine will not join NATO "but its candidacy to join the European Union cannot be blocked".
The negotiations had been opened by a meeting between the representatives of Moscow and Kiev with the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan who launched an appeal to "reach peace and a ceasefire as soon as possible", reiterating Turkey's readiness to host a meeting between the two leaders.
Today, the Russian Defense Minister, Shoigu, announced his will to focus military operations on the "liberation" of the Donbass. And the representatives of Kiev spoke of ad hoc negotiations precisely on Crimea and Donbass. In detail, Ukraine proposes to Russia separate negotiations on the status of Crimea and the port of Sevastopol which must be concluded within 15 years. As for the Donbass, Kiev proposes that its status be discussed in a direct meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
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Moscow: "No objection to Ukraine's desire to join the EU"
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Moscow: "The recognition of current territorial realities in the negotiations"
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Usa: "Moscow has started its retreat near Kiev"
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Warning sirens in Kiev and other cities
The anti-aircraft sirens are sounding in Kiev and in several other cities of Ukraine including Kharkiv and Volyn, while in Istanbul the talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations have just ended.
(Unioneonline)