Ukrainian officials are pushing for a ceasefire agreement that will allow thousands of civilians to flee besieged cities and towns that continue to be bombed by Russian forces. Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said in a statement on Tuesday that his country had taken “a clear position from Ukraine” and that “the possibility of peace would be closer” as the two sides continued to work quickly to reach compromises. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu (C) addresses peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office in Istanbul, Turkey, March 29, 2022. Cem Ozdel / Getad Ukrainian negotiators have also indicated some progress as the two sides seek to find mutual “security guarantees”. David Arachamia, one of the Ukrainian negotiators, declared the “first victory” simply by moving the venue of the talks from Belarus, a Russian ally on Ukraine’s northern border, to Turkey. “We see Turkey as one of our guarantors of Ukraine’s security.” But the most important statement after Tuesday’s talks came from Moscow, where the defense ministry issued a statement saying it would “reduce military activity” in order to “create the necessary conditions for further negotiations”. Ukraine’s leaders have made it clear since last week that they are willing to accept a formal neutral status for the country, blocking NATO membership and accepting some restrictions on its military in exchange for ending the war. “Due to the fact that the negotiations on the preparation of the Treaty on Neutrality and Non-Nuclear Status of Ukraine, as well as on the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine, are proceeding in practice, taking into account the principles discussed at today’s meeting, “Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation – in order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achievement of the ultimate goal; it was decided to radically reduce, from time to time, military activity in Kyiv,” said Russian Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
Congress on how Putin’s war in Ukraine mimics actions in Syria 12:27 It was unclear to what extent the Russian military would reduce its artillery barrage against the suburbs of Kiev and the decimated city of Chernihiv, near the Russian border, but it was the first time Moscow had given any indication that it would reduce its intensity. “Special military operation” since it began on 24 February. Russia’s Defense Ministry has said it will now focus its efforts on eastern Ukraine to secure the “independence” of two breakaway regions backed by Moscow-backed separatist militants.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşo .lu said the round of Russia-Ukraine talks in his country had brought “the most substantial progress” to date towards ending the war, but his US counterpart, Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken, was more cautious. “I would leave it to our Ukrainian partners to determine if there is real progress and if Russia is effectively committed,” Blinken told reporters on Tuesday. “What I can say is this: There is what Russia is saying and there is what Russia is doing. We are focusing on the second. And what Russia is doing is the continuing brutality of Ukraine and its people. And that continues as we speak. . ”
As the Russian Defense Ministry attached the change of tactics to the peace talks, a former Ukrainian ambassador told BBC News that, in his view, it was up to Russia to force him to accept the reality on the ground.
“They may realize that they are not winning this war and they will never win,” the former Ukrainian ambassador to Austria, Dr. Olexander Scherba, following Tuesday’s negotiations. “We know what we are fighting for, the Russians do not.” CBS News’ senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams says Putin’s ground forces have stopped their approach to Kyiv and other cities for weeks and are suffering heavy casualties. About 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in just over a month of fighting, according to a NATO official.
Ukraine’s Zelensky ready to discuss possible neutrality ahead of peace talks with Russia 07:11 Unable to move forward due to logistical failures and fierce Ukrainian resistance, Russia has resorted to a war of attrition, pounding cities from afar with rockets and artillery. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a videotaped speech Monday night that “Russia’s ruthless war against our nation” had killed at least 143 children. He praised Ukraine’s defense forces for refusing to allow Russian troops to occupy Kyiv and said they had even pushed Putin’s army away from some cities it had occupied near the capital. “Our defenders are advancing on the Kiev region, regaining control of Ukrainian territory,” Zelensky said. “The occupiers are moving away from Irpin, from Kyiv. However, it is still too early to talk about security in this part of the region. The fighting continues.”
Williams and her team saw first-hand this week that advances by Ukrainian troops do not guarantee security for people living in cities recaptured from Russia. Williams was with Ukrainian forces as they drove Monday to Makariv, about 40 miles west of Kiev. Ukraine said its troops recaptured Makariv last week, but as they approached, Ukrainian forces spotted Russian drones flying overhead. It was a tense situation. Twice the escort left its vehicles on the side of the road and scattered for cover. The explosions of the landing shells could be heard nearby. Williams said it was clear that Ukraine’s struggle for freedom could be long and dangerous. More Tucker Reals Tucker Reals is the foreign editor of CBSNews.com, based in CBS News, London.