Russia-Ukraine talks: Will significantly reduce military activity in Kyiv, says Moscow

International

oi-Deepika S

Istanbul, Mar 29: Russia has decided to significantly reduce military activity in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv, after another round of talks Russia and Ukraine held in Istanbul and appears to be the first major concession the Russians made since the beginning of their invasion in Ukraine more than a month ago.

Russia’s deputy defense minister said that Moscow has decided to “fundamentally … cut back” operations near the capital and another major city to “increase mutual trust” at talks aimed at ending the fighting. Alexander Fomin said Russian forces would cut back “military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv.”

“Given that the talks on the preparation of an agreement on the neutrality and non-nuclear status of Ukraine have moved into a practical field… a decision has been made to radically, by several times reduce the military activity in the areas of Kyiv and Chernigiv,” Russia’s deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin said.

Chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said there had been a “meaningful discussion” at the talks and that Ukrainian proposals would be put to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Ukrainian general staff of the military said earlier it had noted withdrawals around Kyiv and Chernihiv.

Earlier talks, held both by video and in person, failed to make progress on ending the war that has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes – including almost 4 million from their country. NATO-member Turkey has close relations with both Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine could declare neutrality, potentially accept a compromise on contested areas in the country’s east, and offer security guarantees to Russia to secure peace “without delay.” He said only a face-to-face meeting with Russia’s leader could end the war.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that the two presidents could meet, but only after the key elements of a potential deal are negotiated.