03/28/2022 13:56 (act 03/28/2022 13:56)
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are expected to take place in the Turkish capital, Istanbul. ©REUTERS/Yoruk Isik
According to the Kremlin, new peace talks between two Ukrainian and Russian delegations could start in Istanbul on Tuesday.
“Today they probably won’t stay there,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, according to Interfax news agency. “Hopefully this can theoretically happen tomorrow.”
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinski, had previously announced that, after about two weeks of online negotiations, a face-to-face meeting was planned from Tuesday.
Talks between Russia and Ukraine start on Tuesday
Ukraine dampened expectations of the new round of negotiations. “I don’t think there will be any progress on the most important issues,” said Interior Ministry adviser Vadym Denysenko.
We’re only planning to meet on Tuesday or Wednesday
Medinski had previously posted on Telegram that a meeting was planned for Tuesday and Wednesday. Putin and Erdogan exchanged views over the phone, among other things, on the status of the talks, the President’s Office in Ankara said on Sunday night. “Erdogan stressed the importance of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the implementation of peace and the improvement of humanitarian conditions in the region,” his office said.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine wants to insist on territorial integrity
Ukraine wants to insist on its territorial integrity and sovereignty in negotiations with Russia. That’s what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message. Effective security guarantees are a must. Ukraine’s goal is peace and a return to normal life in its own country as soon as possible. According to Zelenskyy, “about” 20,000 people have already died in the war.
So far, three face-to-face meetings between Russia and Ukraine
Shortly after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, on February 24, delegations from both countries began negotiations. After three face-to-face meetings in the Belarusian border area, the talks were held via videoconferences. Ukraine is demanding an end to the fighting and the withdrawal of Russian troops. Moscow is demanding that Kiev renounce NATO, which recognizes breakaway areas in the east of the country as independent states and Russian rule over the annexed Crimea peninsula.
Ankara maintains good relations with Moscow and Kiev. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov met in Turkey on March 10. However, the talks in Antalya at the time did not bring any significant progress.