ISTANBUL, KOMPAS.TV – Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul are progressing constructively and are approaching a meeting point, to the extent that it is possible for the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to meet for bilateral talks, as reported RIA NovostiTuesday (29/3/2022).
The Russian delegation for the Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul announced two steps to reduce the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine after the first day of talks.
RIAciting the Russian delegation, said the measures included “a drastic reduction in military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv,” and a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky simultaneously with the initialization of a peace agreement between the foreign ministers of the two countries.
The head of the Russian delegation, the top official in Russia’s presidential office, Vladimir Medinsky, called the talks “constructive,” and Moscow would take two steps to defuse the conflict, Medinsky said after talks in Istanbul.
Medinsky clarified that the two components are the military and political components, in which the Kiev proposal will be reported to Putin.
“Talks are constructive. We received proposals from Ukraine for consideration – a clearly formulated position on their inclusion in the agreement,” Medinsky said.
“This proposal will be considered in the near future, reported to the president, and the relevant response will be given.”
Moscow proposed to speed up the meeting between the two presidents. As Medinsky points out, Moscow is moving away from the policy that a meeting between Putin and Zelensky will be possible when the parties reach an agreement.
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Medinsky said, “The proposed format is as follows – first, an agreement is prepared, then the agreement is approved by negotiators, supported by foreign ministers at the meeting, after which a meeting of heads of state to sign.”
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