UKRAINIAN & RUSSIAN NEW CEASEFIRE TALKS HOSTED BY TURKEY ARE OPTIMISTIC

USPA NEWS - As Russian strikes rages in Ukraine, a new round (the 6th, since the resumption of negotiations between the two neighboring countries) took place in Turkey- Istanbul, between the negotiators of Ukraine and Russia, have shown "optimism" fro the first time. Indeed, President Zelensky spoke of a positive signal "The signals we hear from the negotiating platform can be called positive," Zelensky said in a video address published on his official Telegram channel. Negotiations should not be expected to lead to the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation. This issue can be considered only after the end of the war, and we will return what belongs to us”.They are considering a Russian demand for Ukrainian neutrality.

As Russian strikes rages in Ukraine, a new round (the 6th, since the resumption of negotiations between the two neighboring countries) took place in Turkey- Istanbul, between the negotiators of Ukraine and Russia, have shown "optimism" fro the first time. Indeed, President Zelensky spoke of a positive signal "The signals we hear from the negotiating platform can be called positive," Zelensky said in a video address published on his official Telegram channel. Negotiations should not be expected to lead to the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation. This issue can be considered only after the end of the war, and we will return what belongs to us”. They are considering a Russian demand for Ukrainian neutrality. The two days talk hosted by theTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who thinks that a ceasefire agreement would « paved the way for a next meeting of the Russia and Ukraine’s presidents ». "As the negotiations on an agreement on the neutrality and non-nuclear status of Ukraine entering a practical dimension (...), it was decided, in order to increase confidence, to drastically reduce military activity in the direction of Kyiev and Cherniguiv," Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said in Istanbul after the talks. The previous face-to-face negotiation session had already taken place on March 10 in Turkey, at the level of foreign ministers, but had not resulted in any progress. On the Russian side, the head of the Russian delegation and representative of the Kremlin, Vladimir Medinski, reported "substantial discussions" and said that Ukraine's "clear" proposals for an agreement would be "studied very soon and submitted to President Vladimir Putin. On this 34th day of the war, talks are underway between the Russians and the Ukrainians in Turkey, a Member State of NATO, but not belonging to the EU, is a country apart, because it has no "unfriendly" position. nor vis a vis Ukraine, or Russia and has maritime borders with both countries and maintains good relations with both sides. Since the beginning of the conflict, Turkey had wisely offered its mediation by hosting peace talks, while stressing its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.This ground thus seems "more neutral" for both sides. This fresh round of negotiations could be the beginning of a serious diplomatic rapprochement between Russia and Ukraine to finally lead to a ceasefire, in the face of a catastrophic humanitarian situation, especially in the city of Mariupol. "As regards a meeting of the two presidents, we have said from the start that it will be possible when there is an agreement (…).

THE TALK FORESEES FUTURE MEETING OF THE TWO LEADERS OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINE The meeting could be multilateral, with the participation of guarantor states", has he said. "After today's substantial discussion, we have agreed and propose that the meeting be held to initial the agreement," he said. "Provided that we work quickly on the agreement, and find the necessary compromises, the possibility of concluding peace will come closer," Medinski said. Russia on Tuesday promised to "drastically" reduce its military activity in the direction of kyiv and Cherniguiv in Ukraine, “to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations.”after "substantial" Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul. The Ukrainian delegates had offered a detailed peace proposal to their Russian counterparts. After hours of negations that started on 28th of march, for long hours, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government revealed a first signal of optimism after more than a month of attacks. U. S President Biden, told the press, on Tuesday afternoon he won’t “read anything into” Russia’s suggestions of de-escalation in Ukraine until he sees evidence Russia will “follow through on what they are suggesting.” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said there were continued strikes Tuesday on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. “We’re not convince that the threat to the capital city has been radically diminished,” he said. On the other hand, "As regards a meeting of the two presidents, we have said from the beginning that it will be possible On the other hand, "As regards a meeting of the two presidents, we have said from the beginning that it will be possible when there is an agreement (...) The meeting could be multilateral, with the participation of 'Guarantor States,' said Mr. Medinski. He added an optimistic note, 'After today's substantial discussion, we have agreed and propose that the meeting be held to initial the agreement,' he added. "Provided we (carry out) quick work on the agreement, and find the necessary compromises, the possibility of concluding peace will come closer," he said. President Putin, whether or not to agree to a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Zelensky UKRAINE WANTS INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEE David Arakhamia, one of the Ukrainian negotiators, said at an informal press briefing, "We insist that this is an international agreement that will be signed by all security guarantors. "We want a international mechanism of security guarantees where the guarantor countries will act in a manner analogous to Article 5 of NATO and even more firmly", he added. Article 5 of the Treaty of the Atlantic Alliance stipulates that an attack on one of its members is an attack on all. He specified the need for an international guarantee to ensure the security of his country "Ukraine will accept a neutral status if the security guarantee system works ", He cited, among the countries that Ukraine would like to have as guarantors, the United States, China, France and the United Kingdom - members of the UN Security Council - but also Turkey, the Germany, Poland and Israel. Source: With agencies