Negotiating progress
The talks in Turkey raised hopes of a possible exit from the conflict, when Russia agreed to reduce fighting in northern Ukraine.
Russia pledges today “dramatic reduction” in military activity around Kiev and Chernihiv, northern Ukraine after “meaningful” talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, Turkey.
Deputy Defense Minister Russia Alexander Fomin said the decision was made “to strengthen mutual trust and facilitate further negotiations, towards reaching the ultimate goal of agreeing and signing an agreement”.
However, Vladimir Medinsky, an assistant to the Russian president, later made clear that the decision to de-escalate the military in Kiev and Chernihiv “is not a ceasefire” and that there is still a long way to go to reach an agreement with Ukraine.
Delegations of Russia and Ukraine at the talks in Istanbul, Turkey today. Photo: AFP.
Within the framework of the negotiations, Ukraine also suggested to apply neutrality In exchange for security guarantees, Kiev will not join military alliances or allow foreign bases to build on its territory. Kiev insists that this neutral status does not prevent Ukraine from joining the European Union (EU).
“If we try to agree on these important provisions, Ukraine can apply its status as a non-union and non-nuclear state, in the form of permanent neutrality,” said Oleksander Chaly, a member of the delegation. Ukraine negotiations, said.
In the field, senior military officials of the America says Russia has begun withdrawing some units from the capital Kiev, which includes tactical groups at the battalion level, and is currently concentrated in southern and eastern Ukraine. These officials warned Russia could reverse the move at any time.
He said he also saw some indications that Russian forces had reduced their bombing raids around Kiev. But the Prime Minister’s spokesman Boris Johnson Britain wants to see Russia withdraw all of its forces from Ukraine and will assess steps towards a viable peace agreement by actions, not words.
In southern Ukraine, fighting continues. Port city officials Mykolaiv accused Russian forces of hitting the government building, destroying part of it, leaving at least 7 dead and 20 injured.
In the city Mariupol, southeastern Ukraine, a civilian evacuation corridor was opened today so people can leave the city by private vehicle. This is one of three humanitarian corridors agreed to be established by both sides in conflict-affected areas, after a day of pause due to concerns about Russian air strikes.
More than a month after the conflict broke out, more than 3.9 million people have been evacuated from Ukrainethousands of people were killed and injured, while the Russian economy was also affected by a series of Western sanctions.
The government building was hit by an air strike in the city of Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine today. Photo: Reuters.
Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Moscow has completed most of the first phase of its military operation and will now focus on regions in eastern and southern Ukraine. Shoigu also warned that Russia will respond appropriately if the NATO military alliance provides aircraft and air defense systems to Ukraine.
Russia today reaffirmed its position that it only accepts payments for gas sales to the European Union in ruble, despite G7 objections. The Russian government, the Russian central bank and the energy group Gazprom are expected to present to Putin a system to allow gas payments in rubles on March 31.
“Nothing is better than Russian gas. All other options are worse. That’s reality,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Thanh Tam (According to CNN, AFP, Reuters)
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