Ukraine rejects Russian ultimatum for Mariupol • Explosions in Kiev

Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia agreed on a new round of negotiations today via video link. The teams want to talk to each other in the morning, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mychajlo Podoljak said.

The last high-level talks were last Monday. According to Podoljak, negotiations with Moscow to end the war could take weeks, but the Russians have become more realistic recently.

Russia demands, among other things, the complete neutrality and demilitarization of Ukraine, and the independence of the self-declared people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Ukraine has indicated that it wants to make compromises on the country’s neutrality, but is demanding security guarantees from the West. The country also insists on territorial integrity.

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