Status: 02/28/2022 12:33 p.m
Ukraine is calling for an “immediate ceasefire” and the withdrawal of Russian troops, and the government in Moscow says it wants a quick agreement: delegations from both countries have started negotiations.
Two delegations from Russia and Ukraine have started peace talks on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. The Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makej opened the talks, reported the Belarusian state media and published videos.
The Ukrainian delegation and the Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed the start. Nevertheless, the fighting continues.
The Russian delegation will be led by the Kremlin’s special envoy, Vladimir Medinsky. The delegation from Moscow also includes: Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, the Russian envoy at the negotiations of the so-called Contact Group, Boris Gryzlov, and the well-known foreign politician Leonid Slutsky.
The Ukrainian side is led by the presidential faction leader, David Arakhamiya. The delegation also includes Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak, Deputy Head of Ukraine’s delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (Minskkram) Andriy Kostin, MP Rustem Umerov and Deputy Foreign Minister Mykola Tochytskyi.
conflicting parties as a source
Information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body in the current situation.
Kremlin: Negotiations could have started earlier
The head of the Russian delegation, Medinski, had previously assured that Moscow was interested in an agreement. “We are definitely interested in reaching an agreement as soon as possible,” he told Russian television before talks began. The agreement must be “in the interests of both sides”.
The Kremlin also regretted that negotiations were only taking place now – “although the opportunity was there,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Tass state agency in Moscow. The Russian delegation has been waiting in the neighboring country “for a long time”. The talks could have started on Monday night, said Peskow. “But the other side has just arrived.”
Kyiv calls for a ceasefire and troop withdrawal
According to Ukrainian reports, however, a meeting did not take place on Sunday because the journey from Ukraine was difficult due to the fighting. Regarding Kiev’s demand, a statement said: “The key issue in the negotiations is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from the territory of Ukraine.”
Ukraine had initially rejected peace talks in Russia’s partner country Belarus. The country is taking part in hostilities against Ukraine, Zelenskyy said. He is open to all places “from where no rockets are fired at Ukraine”.
Selenskyj: Little hope for a result
The President later accepted the Russian offer. “I don’t believe in the outcome of this meeting, but let’s try,” said Zelenskyy. He is trying to stop the war as long as there is a minimal chance. Not a single Ukrainian should doubt that.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko admitted on Sunday that Russian troops had attacked Ukraine from his country. Two rockets were fired “because Kyiv has stationed three to four rocket divisions on the border” with Belarus, he said, according to state media.
Vatican offers mediation
Meanwhile, the Vatican has renewed its offer to act as a peace mediator in the war between Ukraine and Russia. The Holy See is “ready at any time” to help the parties to the conflict to find a solution, said Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Papal States’ top diplomat, in an interview with several Italian newspapers.
“I reiterate the Holy Father’s urgent call during his visit to the Russian embassy to end the fighting and return to negotiations.” Pope Francis visited the Russian representation in an extraordinary event on Friday. “He went there to express his concern about the war,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.