(International Observation) Russian-Ukrainian Foreign Ministers Talks: The biggest result is "continue to talk"

　　China News Agency, Moscow, March 10th, topic: Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers' talks: the biggest result is "continue to talk"

　　China News Agency reporter Tian Bing Zhang Shuo

　　On March 10, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba held talks in Antalya, Turkey.

The dialogue, which has been called the "highest-level" dialogue between Russia and Ukraine since the conflict, lasted nearly two hours.

Despite discussions on improving humanitarian conditions and the withdrawal of Russian troops, the two sides have not made progress on key issues such as a ceasefire.

　　Conversations at the "Highest Level"

　　Under the mediation of Turkey, Lavrov and Curieba held talks on the same day in Belek, a small town outside Antalya.

According to RIA Novosti, this is the first high-level direct contact between the two countries since Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

　　The talks started at 11:00 local time and ended at about 12:50 and lasted for nearly two hours.

The Russian-Ukrainian media reported that "the two sides tried to find a diplomatic solution in the negotiations, but in the end they did not reach an agreement on a ceasefire and so on."

　　After the talks, the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers held separate press conferences.

When answering the question about the positive results of the talks, Lavrov said that the talks cannot replace the talks held by Russia and Ukraine in Belarus, which is the main venue for the talks, and all specific issues should be discussed in Belarus.

　　The Ukrainian Independent News Agency quoted Kuleba as saying that the main demands of the Ukrainian side during the talks were to open humanitarian corridors and a 24-hour ceasefire.

Kuleba told a news conference that the two sides had made no progress on the ceasefire that was discussed.

"The Russian side has proposed that Ukraine will not cease fire unless it surrenders to Russia; but Ukraine is very strong and we will not surrender."

　　Regarding the expectations of this meeting, all parties expressed earlier that they "do not hold much hope".

Kuleba stated on the 9th that "expectations for the results of the talks are limited"; the Russian side, who arrived in Turkey on the same day, believes that the talks are only the start of bilateral "basic negotiations".

　　The heads of state meet "conditionally"

　　During this meeting, the two sides also discussed the possibility of a meeting between the two heads of state.

Lavrov said that Putin never refused to meet with Zelensky, but the two should not talk for the sake of talks, but to do the necessary preparations for it.

　　Regarding the leaders' meeting and the ceasefire, Putin and Zelensky have also expressed their respective positions on different occasions.

Putin said earlier this month that Russia was open to "dialogue with Ukraine and all interested parties who wish to achieve peace in Ukraine," provided that all Russian demands are met.

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said in an interview with Reuters on the 7th that Russia's demands on Ukraine include stopping all military operations, writing neutrality status into the constitution, recognizing Russia's sovereignty over Crimea and recognizing Donetsk. and Luhansk independence.

He emphasized that if the Uzbek side does the above points, the Russian side can cease fire at any time.

　　In this regard, Zelensky said in an interview with the ABC on the 8th that Ukraine is ready to have a dialogue with Russia on issues such as security, the future of the Donbas region and Crimea.

　　In Zelensky's view, "the key point for the current situation in Ukraine and Russia is for Putin to start a dialogue." Zelensky said in an interview with Bild that he firmly believes that only on the basis of mutual compromise Putin has direct dialogue to stop the conflict.

Zelensky said that Ukraine is ready to make some compromises, but will never betray and betray the country.

At the same time, Russia must also be willing to compromise, "this is the only solution we can get out of the current impasse."

　　Ceasefire is the key

　　Both foreign ministers said after the talks that the two sides would continue to maintain dialogue to find a solution.

Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu also said after the talks that Turkey is willing to continue to act as a mediator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and preside over the talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Cavusoglu called on the outside world not to expect a "miracle" in the talks between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers, but also emphasized the importance of continuing high-level dialogue between the two sides; Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko also expressed the hope that the two countries can hold a new meeting this month. A round of talks, but the date of the talks has not yet been set.

　　Before this foreign ministers' meeting, the Russian-Ukrainian delegation had conducted three rounds of negotiations in Belarus.

Although progress in political and military areas is limited, the delegations of the two sides have reached an understanding on the opening of humanitarian corridors.

At the same time, the two sides also agreed to continue intensive consultations on related issues.

　　In this regard, some analysts believe that, whether it is a ceasefire call, a humanitarian corridor, or a series of "basic demands" that the two sides do not make concessions to each other, although the differences between Russia and Ukraine are obvious, neither side refuses to talk.

Only dialogue and negotiation is the only way to solve the problem, otherwise the situation in Russia and Ukraine may evolve into a long-term military conflict.

In addition, the spillover effects of the escalating Western sanctions against Russia and the Ukrainian refugee crisis have emerged, which have also brought more uncertainty to the reshaping of the global political and geopolitical landscape.

　　The situation in Ukraine has developed to this day for complicated reasons.

To solve complex problems, what is needed is calmness and rationality, rather than adding fuel to the fire and intensifying contradictions.

"Ultimately, when everything is over, people will realize that only bilateral and multilateral dialogue and exchanges can strengthen the security of all," said Kortunov, director general of the Russian Council of International Affairs.