News / Russia

Kremlin says no 'breakthrough' in peace talks with Ukraine

Wednesday, 30 March 2022 4:26 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 30 March 2022 4:26 PM ]

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (photo by Reuters)

The Kremlin has said there was nothing "too promising" in the results of a round of discussions between Russian and Ukrainian delegates in the Turkish city of Istanbul a day earlier.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday Moscow considered it "positive" that Kyiv had started outlining its demands in writing.

"What is positive is that the Ukrainian side has at least started to specifically formulating and putting on paper what it is proposing. Until now we had not managed to achieve that," he said

"As regards the rest, we cannot, put it this way, at present state there have been any breakthroughs, anything very promising," he said, adding that a lot of work was still to be done.

"We carefully avoid making statements on the matters" that are discussed at the talks because "we believe that negotiations should take place in silence", the spokesman added.

Following the talks on Tuesday, Vladimir Medinsky, had described the Istanbul meeting, the first face-to-face talks between the two sides in more than two weeks, as "meaningful."

Russia has also said that it would scale back attacks on Kyiv and in northern Ukraine "to build trust."

Russia, Ukraine to resume peace talks in Turkey as fighting rages on

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are set to resume tension-easing negotiations in Istanbul on Monday, Reuters cited a senior Turkish official as saying, as the conflict between the neighbors rages on.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei has recently said that Moscow can now focus on its key objective since the main tasks of the first phase of the offensive has been completed and Russian forces have “significantly reduced” the Ukrainian military’s combat power.

The top Russian official warned that Moscow would respond "adequately" if the NATO military alliance supplied Ukraine with planes and air defense systems.

Russia calls ‘liberation’ of Donbass main goal of operation in Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says Moscow has completed the main objectives of the first phase of the special military operation in Ukraine and that the army will be focusing on the “liberation” of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, collectively known as the Donbass.

In a televised speech on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine following Moscow’s recognition of Lugansk and Donetsk "republics."

The conflict has provoked a unanimous response from Western countries, which have imposed a long list of sanctions on Moscow. Russia says it will halt the military operation instantly if Kiev meets Moscow’s list of demands, including never applying to join NATO.

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