Ukraine War Russia To Fundamentally Cut Back Military Activity Near Kyiv And Chernihiv But West Says They Re Just Playing For Time World News

Alexander Fomin, the Kremlin’s deputy defense minister, said Moscow had decided to “radically cut off operations” to “increase mutual trust” in talks aimed at ending the fighting. However, speaking to Reuters news agency, a Western official said the announcement “seems to be more of a tactic” to save time for troops to regroup. This assessment was reiterated by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who said he “saw no signs of seriousness” from Russia in ending the war. “Whether (Russia) is just trying to regroup, given the heavy losses it has suffered, I do not know,” he said. It took place as delegations from Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul, Turkey for new peace talks. Putin’s forces were “pushed” out of the chapter – live updates In other developments: • Ukrainian troops “regain ground” and repel Russian forces • Zelensky says Ukraine is willing to consider neutrality and offer security guarantees • US disputes allegations of “chemical” poisoning of Abramovich • More Ukraine Russia outlines two steps to de-escalate the war Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiating team, explained that the troop cuts from major cities were one of two steps taken by Moscow to de-escalate the 34-day conflict. He said Russia would also agree to a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky if and when a peace treaty is reached by each country’s foreign ministers. However, he emphasized that the reduction was not a ceasefire, and said talks on a formal agreement with Kyiv had a long way to go. But the withdrawals around Kyiv and Chernihiv have been noted by the Ukrainians, the army’s general staff said. Sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich appeared in peace talks Tuesday morning after allegations he had been poisoned in previous talks – a claim the Kremlin has rejected as part of an “information war”. Read more: How involved is Roman Abramovich in peace talks? Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:55 Rocket in Mykolaiv Zelensky’s proposals for peace Previous talks, whether in Belarus or on video, have failed to make progress in ending the conflict, which has killed thousands and displaced more than 10 million Ukrainians – including nearly four million who have been forced to flee abroad. The Ukrainian president has previously said his country was ready to declare neutrality, as demanded by Moscow, and that a compromise could be reached on the “complicated Donbas issue” in the east of the country, where Russian-backed separatists control in 2014. However, it is not clear how this can be reconciled with his position that “Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are unquestionable.” Mr Blinken appeared to reject the idea that Russia could “subjugate” parts of Ukraine, saying: “We have seen the will and determination of the Ukrainian people to determine their own future, not to be determined by Russia or anyone else them.” Russia has long urged Ukraine to abandon all hopes of joining NATO, something Moscow sees as a threat. Mr Zelensky, for his part, stressed that Ukraine needed its own security guarantees as part of any agreement. Read more: Zelensky offers Putin a way out of the war – but will the Russian leader step down? Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:28 “We regain control” Ukraine has warned that the “significant threat” remains for Kyiv Meanwhile, as Ukrainian forces entered the 34th day of their war, the UK Department of Defense said Kremlin forces remained a “significant threat” to the capital through their strike capability. And later, Downing Street stressed the need for the West not to abandon its response to the crisis. During talks with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United States, Boris Johnson “stressed that we should judge the Putin regime by its actions and not by its words.” A U.S. official also warned of “continuing major attacks” in other parts of Ukraine. In his last speech to the nation, the Ukrainian president said troops were reclaiming territory around the capital and announced the “liberation” of Irpin, a key city on the northwestern outskirts of Kiev.

title: “Ukraine War Russia To Fundamentally Cut Back Military Activity Near Kyiv And Chernihiv But West Says They Re Just Playing For Time World News " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-19” author: “Michael Howell”

Key points from the conversations

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations arrived in Istanbul late Monday afternoon with low expectations. By the time they left, on Tuesday afternoon, talk of a major discovery resonated around the world. The talks lasted only a few hours, but both sides seemed to be making compromises that could pave the way for something bigger. Ukraine is said to be ready to give up its ambitions to join NATO. In exchange for sworn neutrality, they will demand security guarantees from as yet unclear states. The United States and the United Kingdom have been discussed, but because of their prominent position in NATO, they may prove unacceptable to Moscow – Poland, Italy and Canada have been added to the list. Ukraine remains firm in its refusal to leave Crimea and Donbas. Russia is just as firm on this issue. These territorial negotiations could be separated at a later date, depending on the outcome of more direct peace talks. But the most unexpected announcement of the day came from the Russian delegation – the proposal to withdraw forces from around Kyiv and Chernihiv. In fact, Russian forces had been bogged down and made little progress for weeks. It was rumored that many of them would pull east anyway, to boost the push there. The prospect of Russian troops occupying Kyiv is becoming increasingly unrealistic, so this is more of a face-saving move. Putin would describe it as a confidence-building gesture, but in reality it represents a complete failure to achieve what he wrongly thought he would do in a matter of days. The Turkish hosts, eager to be pacifists, have suggested that the next step is for Putin and Zelensky to meet in person. This is certainly more likely tonight, but after weeks of broken Russian promises, I can only maintain some skepticism. Russia outlines two steps to de-escalate the war Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiating team, said the troop cuts from major cities were one of two steps taken by Moscow to de-escalate the 34-day conflict. He said Russia would also agree to a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky if and when a peace treaty is reached by each country’s foreign ministers. However, he emphasized that the reduction was not a ceasefire, and said talks on a formal agreement with Kyiv had a long way to go. But the withdrawals around Kyiv and Chernihiv have been noted by the Ukrainians, the army’s general staff said. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:55 Rocket in Mykolaiv Zelensky’s proposals for peace Previous talks, whether in Belarus or on video, have failed to make progress in ending the conflict, which has killed thousands and displaced more than 10 million Ukrainians – including nearly four million who have been forced to flee abroad. The Ukrainian president has previously said his country was ready to declare neutrality, as demanded by Moscow, and that a compromise could be reached on the “complicated Donbas issue” in the east of the country, where Russian-backed separatists control in 2014. However, it is not clear how this can be reconciled with his position that “Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are unquestionable.” Mr Blinken appeared to reject the idea that Russia could “subjugate” parts of Ukraine, saying: “We have seen the will and determination of the Ukrainian people to determine their own future, not to be determined by Russia or anyone else them.” Russia has long urged Ukraine to abandon all hopes of joining NATO, something Moscow sees as a threat. Mr Zelensky, for his part, stressed that Ukraine needed its own security guarantees as part of any agreement. Read more: Zelensky offers Putin a way out of the war – but will the Russian leader step down? Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:28 “We regain control” Ukraine has warned that the “significant threat” remains for Kyiv Meanwhile, as Ukrainian forces entered the 34th day of their war, the UK Department of Defense said Kremlin forces remained a “significant threat” to the capital through their strike capability. And later, Downing Street stressed the need for the West not to abandon its response to the crisis. During talks with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United States, Boris Johnson “stressed that we should judge the Putin regime by its actions and not by its words.” A U.S. official also warned of “continuing major attacks” in other parts of Ukraine. In his last speech to the nation, the Ukrainian president said troops were reclaiming territory around the capital and announced the “liberation” of Irpin, a key city on the northwestern outskirts of Kiev.

title: “Ukraine War Russia To Fundamentally Cut Back Military Activity Near Kyiv And Chernihiv But West Says They Re Just Playing For Time World News " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-19” author: “Michael Howell”

Key points from the conversations#

Key points from the conversations