Russia and Ukraine resumed face-to-face talks in Turkey on Tuesday. The two delegations met at the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, the main purpose of which was a ceasefire agreement. This is the first time they have met face to face since March 10 last year, when the last meeting ended in person, as well as in Turkey, without any agreement.
Since then and until now, the talks are held only by video conference. The first day ended after three hours of negotiations, Reported the Turkish agency Anadulu. Negotiations are expected to continue on Wednesday as at least three days were scheduled. At this time, the details of the content of the meeting between the delegations have not been named, although it is expected that those responsible for providing information to the media will be revealed soon.
The following video, released by RIA Novosti, shows members of the Russian delegation leaving the palace where the meeting took place.
Abramovich reappears in Istanbul after receiving information about his poisoning
Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich is also in Istanbul, according to RIA Novosti, which traveled to Turkey as a mediator in the midst of secrecy over possible symptoms of poisoning in early March.
Suspicions of poisoning will cross the negotiating table in Turkey. Prior to today’s talks in Istanbul, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba advised those present at the talks to “eat nothing and not drink or touch the surface.”
Kuleb’s statements were collected in an interview with the Ukrainian news channel Ykpaiha 24, BBC reports.
Nor was there a handshake at the beginning of the meeting of the two delegations. According to Reuters, the talks began with a “cold welcome” and without the handshake of the representatives of Russia and Ukraine.
Possible poisoning was revealed this Monday by The Wall Street Journal and research group Bellingcat, who said Abramovich and several Ukrainian negotiators involved in talks with Moscow presented with symptoms of poisoning after meeting in Kyiv.
Symptoms that appeared in three cases were redness of the eyes, constant and annoying tears and exfoliation of the skin of the hands and face, the newspaper said, describing a possible attack by “radical elements of Moscow” who tried to boycott the talks. .
While the WSJ and Bellingcat have reaffirmed their information, which they claim has been verified by various sources, a U.S. government source has questioned whether this poison. According to Reuters, the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the intelligence services believed that the symptoms were caused by “environmental factors” and “not poison”.
The Kremlin also opposed this information. Russia denies reports of poison use and claims they are “false” and “part of an information war,” Reuters reported.
The role of Abramovich as a possible mediator was not entirely clear. According to the WSJ, Abramovich traveled through mediation between the governments of Russia and Ukraine between Lviv, Moscow and other capitals. He also met with Ukrainian Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
The London Times exclusively reports that the tycoon came to Putin to give Zelensky a handwritten note. According to the newspaper, Putin would respond to Abramovich: “Tell them I will destroy them.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Abramovich was taking part in the talks but was not an official member of the Russian delegation. Peskov added that his participation in the contacts was approved “by both sides,” according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Looking for a ceasefire
Negotiations are underway in Istanbul amid tight security. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received both delegations in a short speech in which he expressed hope that a ceasefire agreement could be reached.
“We believe that there is no such thing as a just and just peace. “Neither side likes the continuation of the war, and an immediate ceasefire will benefit everyone,” he said.
Prior to the meeting, the Russians and Ukrainians resumed their priorities and were open to dialogue.
According to the Financial Times, Russia has stopped demanding Ukraine “denazification” of the country, which is one of the main arguments to justify the invasion of Ukraine: Russia insists on false statements that Ukraine is a “neo-Nazi” country where “there appears to be genocide” (which They argue without evidence) towards the Russian-speaking population.
In addition, citing sources close to the FT talks, it is reported that Moscow will be ready for Ukraine to join the EU if it maintains a neutral military status (it will not join NATO).
Adviser to the President of Ukraine Mikhail Podoliak on Twitter reiterated his country’s goals at the meeting: “Unconditional guarantees of security, ceasefire, effective decisions on humanitarian corridors and adherence to the rules of war.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave several interviews this week in which he was ready to accept neutral status in exchange for security guarantees for several countries. In addition, he assured that the issue of recognition of Crimea and the status of Donbass was an issue that needs to be resolved and resolved.
Source: El Diario
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
