War is peace.

Freedom is slavery.

Ignorance is strength.

Listening to a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov inevitably brings to mind George Orwell's dystopian classic in 1984.  

Lavrov's press conference was a display of icy mastery.

The attack on the children's hospital in Mariupol is just emotional propaganda.

Countries sending weapons to Ukraine will be "held accountable".

But at the same time, no country needs to worry about a Russian invasion, because "Russia has not invaded Ukraine". 

Why even have a conversation with a party who so coldly disputes well-established facts?

Well, because in the end it is the only way to a lasting peace, says Turkey, which hosted the meeting. 

"Disappointed but not surprised"

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba seemed disappointed but not surprised that the negotiations failed.

He said Ukraine had proposed humanitarian corridors and a 24-hour ceasefire, but that it was unprofitable because Russia's foreign minister lacked a mandate to negotiate. 

Russia simply demands that Ukraine capitulate, said Dmytro Kuleba. 

"I want to reiterate that Russia will not see a Ukrainian capitulation" 

Formally, it is of course a failure for the host nation Turkey, which has gone so far as to say that the goal was to create a lasting ceasefire.

But in practice, no one expected a breakthrough in today's meeting.

The parties came to the table and talked to each other for 90 minutes.

An achievement in itself, despite the fact that the prospect of peace still looks pitch black. 

"The situation is as locked as before"

But for incurable optimists, there may be a small straw to hold on to. There was talk of a possible meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky. 

In any case, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov did not rule out such a meeting.

Although it did not sound like an invitation to unconditional talks, but more like a bed for a capitulation.  

Russia demands that Ukraine provide guarantees for neutrality and recognition of the Crimean peninsula, the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as Russian territory.  

Ukrainian President Zelensky has said he is open to discussing neutrality but not Ukraine's sovereignty. 

The situation is really as locked as before.

But the foreign ministers have sat down at the table and Turkey will continue to fight to keep the dialogue going.  

"A significant start," said Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu.

Time will tell if that is true.

But even a small breakthrough would be a feather in the cap for Ankara in the international arena.