China News Service, March 29. According to comprehensive foreign media reports, on the 29th local time, the first day of negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul ended.
The Russian side made major concessions and announced a significant reduction in military operations in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv.
Ukraine, on the other hand, has offered to trade neutrality and non-nuclear status in exchange for security guarantees.
The results of the talks on that day are expected to lay an important foundation for easing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
On March 29, local time, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations started a new round of face-to-face negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey.
Russia: Dramatically reduce military operations in Kyiv
The head of the Russian negotiating delegation and presidential aide Mekinsky said after the talks in Istanbul that Russia had taken two de-escalation measures to cater to Ukraine.
"Negotiations are constructive. We have a proposal for consideration from Ukraine, which is a clear position that Ukraine wants to include in the treaty," Mejinsky said.
He also said that the proposal will be reviewed in the near future, reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and given a corresponding reply.
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In addition, Mejinsky also said that Russia proposed to Ukraine that Putin's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could take place at the same time as the initial signing of the peace treaty between the foreign ministries of the two countries.
He also said Ukraine had given up on joining any military alliance.
He said that Ukraine gave up the establishment of foreign military bases and foreign troops on its territory, and that military exercises should not be held without consultation with Russia and security countries.
On the other hand, after the talks, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Russia decided to significantly reduce military operations in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv in Ukraine.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin told reporters that since negotiations on the development of an agreement on Ukraine's neutrality and nuclear-free status, as well as on the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine are transitioning to a practical stage, the Russian Defense Ministry took into account the principles discussed during today's negotiations. In order to increase mutual trust and establish the necessary conditions for future negotiations and reach the ultimate goal of signing the above-mentioned treaty, it was decided to significantly reduce military operations in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv.
Data map: Ukrainian soldiers collect unexploded artillery shells.
Ukraine: Proposes security guarantees in exchange for neutrality and non-nuclear status
On the other hand, Podoljak, adviser to the Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine, also held a press conference for the negotiations.
CNN and Sky News reported that Podoljak said that Russia and Ukraine had "intensive consultations" on several issues.
Among them, the key point is the "Ukrainian International Security Guarantee Agreement", "Only with this agreement, we can end the war when Ukraine needs it".
On February 27, local time, the streets of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, were empty and pedestrians were hard to find.
Podoljak also said the second issue is "a ceasefire so that all humanitarian issues can be resolved."
According to Reuters, members of the Ukrainian delegation said that during the talks, Ukraine proposed to trade neutrality for security guarantees, which means that Ukraine will not join a military alliance or deploy military bases.
However, Russia said that Ukraine's proposal on security does not apply to Crimea and the Donbas region.
In addition, the Ukrainian delegation also said that it hopes that many countries, including Turkey, Germany, Canada, Poland, and Israel, will become security guarantors.
The Ukraine-Russia agreement will be signed with the security guarantees.
If Ukraine is attacked by Russia, the Ukrainian side hopes to get the support of the security country.
However, Russia and Ukraine have not yet reached an agreement on the issue of a security guarantee state.
Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the two sides have conducted several rounds of negotiations, and the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers have also had direct contact.
Although the two sides have converged on some issues, they have stalled on major issues.
On March 7, local time, the Russian delegation and the Ukrainian delegation held the third round of negotiations in the Belovezh Forest in Belarus.
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Regarding the issue that failed to reach an agreement in the previous rounds of negotiations, Zelensky also expressed recently that "Ukraine is ready to seek security guarantees, neutrality and non-nuclear status. And it is willing to start a dialogue with Russia on the issue of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine." Attitude.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said on the 28th that the biggest goal of the new round of face-to-face talks is to reach a ceasefire.
He also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had set a clear red line for negotiations: no deals for people, land or sovereignty.
TASS quoted Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov as saying on the 28th that Russia hopes that the two sides will succeed.
Lavrov stressed that "Ukraine's non-joining NATO, demilitarization and de-Nazification are the fundamental issues involved in the negotiations".