Russia: Peace Talks Not Enough to Meet Putin-Zelensky

LAST UPDATE: 11:52

Russia said today that peace talks had not progressed well enough for a meeting between the two countries’ leaders and that Moscow’s position on the Crimea and Donbass status remained unchanged, according to Reuters.

“The draft agreement is not ready for a summit,” Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky told the Telegram. “I repeat: Russia’s position on Crimea and Donbass remains unchanged.”

“The Ukrainian side has taken a more realistic approach to issues related to the neutrality regime and the denuclearization of Ukraine,” Medinsky wrote in the Telegram.

The head of the Ukrainian negotiators, David Arahamia, said yesterday, Saturday, that Moscow had accepted “orally” all Ukrainian positions, “except on the Crimean issue.”

“I have an objection. In fact (…), all these agreements reached in Istanbul are nothing more than what Russia has been asking for since 2014,” Medinsky said, referring to the neutrality and denuclearized state. Ukraine and for the non-development of foreign military bases on its territory.

“If David Arahamia” characterizes all this as a Ukrainian position, let him do it, “Vladimir Medinsky added.

Although Arahamia hinted yesterday that talks to end the hostilities have progressed significantly, Medinsky assured today that he “does not share this optimism.”

“Ukrainian diplomatic and military ‘experts’ are long overdue to confirm even agreements that have already been reached at the political level,” he said.

Moscow must respond to a series of Ukrainian proposals aimed at reaching an agreement. Kyiv proposes Ukraine’s neutrality and non-membership in NATO, provided that its security vis-.-Vis Russia is guaranteed by other countries.

It also proposes negotiations to resolve the issue of the status of Ukrainian Donbass and Crimea.

These proposals, which were described as first progress earlier this week by Medinsky, were made during direct talks in Istanbul.

Talks between Russia and Ukraine resumed on Friday by teleconference and a new round is scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, according to Medinsky.

Source: Capital

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