Ukraine, Russia and Kiev: “Ceasefire in the Ultimate Objective Negotiations”

The Achieving a “cease-fire in the war between Ukraine and Russia is the ultimate goal” of the negotiations between the delegations of Kyiv and Moscow. But this is “the bottom line regarding responding to humanitarian needs” in Ukraine. This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the eve of a new round of talks scheduled for today in Turkey.

During the talks, according to the Financial Times, citing a draft agreement, Russia will no longer demand “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, nor “disarmament”, and will be ready to allow Ukraine to join the European Union. (European Union) in return for security guarantees and if you give up joining NATO. Therefore, the draft ceasefire document contains no discussion of three of Russia’s primary core demands, namely “de-Nazification”, “disarmament” and legal protection of the Russian language in Ukraine, the Financial Times writes.

David Arachhamiya, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party in parliament and a member of Kyiv’s negotiating team, told the Financial Times that the parties were close to a security guarantees agreement and Ukraine’s entry into the European Union, but urged caution about the prospects. to penetrate. Arachhameh said “all issues” have been “on the table since the beginning” of the negotiations, but “many points have not been resolved.” Another source familiar with the talks said Ukraine is concerned that Russia is changing its position almost every day, both in terms of military pressure and demands such as the “disarmament” of Kyiv.

“Sovereignty and territorial integrity” are Kyiv’s prioritiesUkraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said, adding that “effective security guarantees are a must.” “Ukraine is ready to discuss adopting a neutral status as part of a peace agreement with Russia, but this will have to be guaranteed by a third party and put to a referendum,” he added.

Kuleba emphasized that on the table “there will be no referendum” because “it is an internal issue in Ukraine. We will decide which referendum should be held or not, the question is not part of the negotiations.” “The President of Ukraine always focuses on the position of his people, the position of the Ukrainians. We have come a long way this month regarding national unity, and the minister added, “I rule out that the government would do anything against the will of the people.”

According to the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, the requests made by Russia regarding Crimea and Donbass are “unrealistic.” “Crimea and Donbass are really red lines for Ukrainians that directly affect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” Kalin said, noting that Turkey “did not recognize the annexation of Crimea,” referring to the fact that “even China did not.” recognition of the annexation of Crimea.

Meanwhile, the resistance of cities in Ukraine continues. “Urban is free of invaders Moscow,” the mayor, Oleksandr Markushin, announced in a video clip posted on social media Russia will withdraw part of its forces from the Kyiv region Because of the “great losses” incurred. Ukrainian forces also announced that there was a “clear decrease in the intensity” of troop movement from Russia into Ukraine.

The situation is different Mariupol The mayor of the southern Ukrainian city, Vadim Boychenko, said that about 160,000 people are trapped and without electricity and that more than 80% of the city’s buildings have been destroyed. In the city of Kharkiv 1,100 buildings were destroyed, half of Chernihiv was destroyed. Erbin, Hostomil, and Borodjanka were completely destroyed to the ground.

Russian soldiers used cluster bombs in the Odessa region and in the Kherson region, Kyiv Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova denounced, claiming to have evidence.

1,099 people were evacuated from the besieged Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors. Kirillo Tymoshenko, the number two in the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote in an online post. Among those evacuating today are also 586 people by car from Mariupol and 513 by bus from Luhansk region.