Talks between Ukraine and Russia have started on the Belarusian border, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters. via text message on Monday.
Previously, the President of Ukraine office says Ukraine goal for the talks were an immediate halt-fire and the withdrawal of Russian forces in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian delegation included the head of Servant of the people party David Arahamiya, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Advisor to the President of Ukraine office Mykhailo Podolyak, first deputy director of the Ukrainian delegation to the Tripartite Contact Group Andriy Kostin and legislators Rustem Umerov and Mykola Tochytsky.
the key issue of the talks is an immediate halt-fire and the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, office noted.
“We certainly have an interest in reach agreements like soon like possible”, the assistant of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Medinsky, who traveled to Belarus for the talks, said in televised remarks before the meeting.
The Kremlin said it would not declare son official position in front of talks with the Ukrainian delegation on Monday as an assault on Moscow against Ukraine has entered its fifth day.
“I suggest we wait for the talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “I wouldn’t declare any negotiating position,” he said. added.
Putin had vowed to ‘demilitarize’ and ‘denazify’ Ukraine when he launched son offensiveaccusing Kyiv of orchestrate a so-called “genocide” of Russian speakers in Eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was skeptical about the possibility of a breakthrough.
