The talks between Russia and Ukraine ended, the parties took a break for consultations.
The head of the Russian delegation, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, said that the countries “have found some points by which common positions can be predicted.” He also said that the second round of negotiations will take place in the coming days on the Belarusian-Polish border.
The representative of the Ukrainian delegation, Mykhailo Podolyak, specified that the main purpose of the discussion was “a ceasefire and hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.” He noted that “the parties identified a number of priority topics and outlined certain solutions.” At the second round of negotiations, “these topics will receive concrete development practice.”
The negotiations lasted about five hours.
On February 25, Vladimir Putin demanded that the Ukrainian authorities recognize Crimea as part of Russia and abandon the idea of joining NATO. He stressed that agreements can be reached only if these conditions are met.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to discuss the country’s neutral status with Russia. At the same time, he said that Moscow must guarantee the security of Ukraine in the implementation of the agreements.
News courtesy: Moscow times