Russia promises to de-escalate the campaign, Ukraine proposes neutrality

The round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul ended with the Kiev side proposing neutrality, while Moscow pledged to reduce the scale of military activities in the north of Ukraine.

According to Reuters news agency, in an interview with the press after the negotiations took place in Istanbul (Turkey) today (March 29), the Ukrainian delegation said it had proposed a regulation under which, The country will not join any military alliance or allow foreign troops to establish bases in its territory.

However, Ukraine would still be guaranteed in terms of security under provisions similar to “Article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Israel and three NATO member states, Canada, Poland and Turkey, are helping to enforce these guarantees.

Delegations of Russia, Ukraine at peace talks in Turkey. Photo: Reuters

According to Ukrainian negotiator Oleksander Chaly, if these “most important and fundamental” provisions are adopted, then Ukraine will be able to really fix its current situation as a formal state. permanent neutrality.

Among Ukraine’s proposals is the setting of a 15-year consultation period on the status of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. However, this period will only come into force within the year. in the event of a complete cease-fire.

In addition, the Ukrainian side also said that there are enough documents in its proposals to warrant a meeting between Ukraine and Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin could happen soon.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin announced that Moscow has decided to reduce the scale of military operations near the regions of the capital Kiev and Chernihiv province in Ukraine to create favorable conditions for negotiations. The General Staff of the Russian Army will announce more information on this decision, after the Russian delegation arrives in Moscow.

The Russia-Ukraine round of talks held in Istanbul today is the first face-to-face meeting between the parties since March 10. According to the head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky, the round of talks lasted for about an hour and the two sides had “meaningful discussions”. He also said that Ukraine’s proposals will be submitted Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“After today’s discussion, we have agreed and proposed a solution whereby the meeting between the leaders of the two countries can take place at the same time as the foreign ministerial negotiations on the agreement,” Medinsky said. . “As the effort to build an agreement and find a compromise is accelerated, the possibility of achieving peace will be much closer.”

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