Russia and Ukraine resumed negotiations on a ceasefire today. The talks will take place via videoconference, Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinski said on the Telegram messaging service.
“Our positions in Crimea and Donbass have not changed,” Medinski said, referring to the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 and areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
Russia had previously reported a Ukrainian air strike on its territory for the first time. Two Ukrainian helicopters attacked a fuel depot in Belgorod, western Russia, causing a massive fire.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the attack would complicate negotiations. “Of course, this does not create favorable conditions for the continuation of negotiations,” Peskov said.
On Tuesday, negotiators in Istanbul personally negotiated with each other without making a breakthrough.