Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Sunday that talks on a ceasefire would be held in Istanbul, possibly starting the next day. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov said Monday, however, that Tuesday was more likely. Further comments could “only hurt the negotiation process,” but the fact that the talks “continued to take place in person is, of course, important,” he said. Officials have downgraded the chances of a major breakthrough, but observers say the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides after the bad meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba in Antalya at 10 p.m. March was a sign that the momentum could change. Kyiv has suggested that with Russia’s invading forces restrained by fierce Ukrainian resistance, heavy losses and growing regular and logistical problems, Moscow may be more willing to compromise as its hopes of establishing a new government fade. Failing to encircle the Ukrainian capital and force the government to capitulate, the Russian Defense Ministry said last week that it was focusing on expanding pro-Russian separatist territory in eastern Ukraine. “What do we have left?”: A resident of Mariupol returns to the damaged house – video Both sides spoke of a possible formula under which Ukraine could accept some form of formal neutrality, but neither has shifted to Russia’s territorial claims, including Crimea, which Moscow occupied in 2014, and its territory. East Donbass. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at the weekend that some form of compromise with Donbass could be possible, but did not suggest that the region could be ceded, making it clear that “territorial integrity” was Kiev’s priority. Lavrov said a meeting between Putin and Zelensky – who met only once, in Paris in 2019 – would be counterproductive at this stage and would be needed “as soon as we are close to resolving all key issues.” He reiterated that Russia’s demands included the demilitarization of Ukraine, “de-nationalization” and future neutrality, and said that the current crisis “has been going on for so long, all these years, that a huge number of problems have accumulated.” Zelensky, who proposed that the issue of neutrality be put to the vote in a referendum after the withdrawal of Russian troops, said that Kyiv “understands that it is impossible to liberate all territory by force”, but that “sovereignty and territorial the integrity of his country is unquestionable. “ “Effective security guarantees are mandatory,” he said. Zelensky: Ukraine willing to discuss neutrality and compromise in Donbas – video Peshkov said Russia “can see no substantial achievement or progress so far,” a sentiment echoed Monday by Vadim Denishenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. Peshkov also expressed concern over remarks made by US President Joe Biden on Saturday, in which he described Putin as a “butcher” who “can not stay in power”. The White House has denied that Biden sought regime change in Moscow. In an interview with The Economist, Zelensky said he did not believe Putin “envisions the very Ukraine we see in his mind.” “He sees Ukraine as part of his world, of his worldview, but that does not correspond to what has happened in the last 30 years.” He said Moscow had “thrown Russian soldiers like logs into the train’s oven” and criticized Western sanctions as “imperfect”. Picturesque of Ukraine “We believe in victory. “It is impossible to believe in anything else,” he said. “We will definitely win because this is our home, our land, our independence. “It’s just a matter of time.” The Russian invasion, which began on February 24, has killed thousands and displaced more than 10 million people from their homes, including nearly 4 million who have fled abroad, mostly to Poland. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the situation in Mariupol was “catastrophic”, with about 170,000 civilians surrounded by Russian forces and supplies of food, water and medicine declining rapidly. France, Greece and Turkey hope to launch a mass evacuation from the southern port city within days. Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svirydenko said Monday that the invasion had so far cost the country nearly $ 565 billion (43 431 billion) in infrastructure damage, economic growth and other factors, with 4.970 kilometers (.000 4,000). miles) roads and 10 m square meters of housing damaged or damaged. Ukrainian forces attacked last week, repelling Russian troops in areas around Kyiv and in the northeast and southwest. Russia’s armored columns are heavily swamped, with supply problems and little or no progress, although they continue to pulverize residential areas. “As of today, the enemy is regrouping its forces, but they can not move anywhere in Ukraine,” Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Mayar said on Monday. A senior Ukrainian military official said the country’s defense forces were holding back Russian troops trying to break through from the northeast and northwest, while in the south they focused on defending the cities of Krivy Rih, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolayiv.
