Moscow promised "drastic" limitation of its military activity in Kiev and Chernigiv, Ukraine, following "substantial" talks between delegations of the two countries in Istanbul, Russian negotiators said.
"As negotiations on a neutrality and non-nuclear status agreement for Ukraine enter a practical dimension () it was decided, to strengthen mutual trust, to drastically limit military activity aimed at Kiev and Chernigiv," Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin announced in Istanbul.
The head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky spoke of "substantial talks" and said Ukraine's "clear" proposals "will be studied very soon and submitted to President" Vladimir Putin.
Possible meeting between Zelensky and Putin
According to Medinsky, in case an agreement to end hostilities is reached, a meeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Putin and representatives of the guarantor countries is possible. "As for a meeting of the two presidents, we had said from the beginning that it would be possible if there is an agreement (...) The meeting could be multilateral, with the participation of the guarantor countries," he noted.
"After today's substantive discussion, we agreed and propose to hold the meeting to initial the agreement," he added. "Provided that we work quickly on an agreement and find the necessary compromises, the possibility of peace will come closer," Medinsky also said.
"Constructive" attitude of Ukrainians
Speaking later on Russian television, he mentioned the proposals presented earlier by Kiev, which is willing to adopt a neutrality regime if foreign powers guarantee its security. Ukraine would also agree not to host military bases of foreign countries on its territory and to adopt "non-nuclear" status.
Neutrality means that Kiev is abandoning the NATO membership effort, a possibility that was a "red line" for Moscow. In return, Ukraine is asking Western countries to guarantee its security.
Medinsky called the Ukrainians' stance "constructive" and said Russia "will respond." He noted that a possible agreement would be signed by the two countries' foreign ministers in the presence of Presidents Putin and Zelensky.
Source: Proto Thema
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