Russian President stressed Vladimir Putin Friday, in a call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, that dialogue for peace in Ukraine is only possible if “all Moscow’s demands are accepted.”
In a summary of the call, which came “at the initiative of Germany,” the Kremlin said that “Moscow is open to dialogue with the Ukrainian side and all those seeking peace in Ukraine, but only on the condition that all Russian demands are met.”
He also noted that “the hope was expressed that Kyiv’s representatives would take a logical and constructive position during the third round of talks.”
Putin added to Shultz that Russian forces do not bomb Ukrainian cities, considering the accusations in this regard as “fabricated,” according to the Kremlin.
It is noteworthy that among these demands the adoption of Ukraine Neutrality, its abandonment of nuclear weapons, its “de-Nazification”, recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the “sovereignty” of the separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.
A new round of negotiations
Ukraine is preparing to hold a new round of negotiations with Moscow over the weekend in an attempt to end the fighting that erupted with the war, a Kyiv negotiator said.
“The third round may take place on Saturday or the day following. We are in constant contact,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhailo Podolyak said during a press conference in Lviv, western Ukraine, on the eighth day of the war.
He also revealed that the Ukrainian authorities are waiting for the approval of the Russians to return to the negotiating table.
From the devastation in Kyiv (Archyde.com)
The German Chancellery had announced earlier Friday that Olaf Scholz had telephoned Vladimir Putin, who assured him that negotiations would resume over the weekend.
The previous two rounds, which were held at the Ukrainian-Belarus and Ukrainian-Hungarian borders, did not end the fighting, but the two sides agreed to establish “humanitarian corridors” to evacuate civilians.
International alert and sanctions
It is noteworthy that on February 24, the Russian forces launched a military operation on Ukrainian territory, a few days following the Kremlin recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, which entailed an international alert and a wide package of sanctions once morest Moscow.
From the devastation in Kyiv (Archyde.com)
Several months ago, the Russian borders witnessed a military alert and military build-up, amid unprecedented tension with the West, once morest the backdrop of the Russians’ refusal to expand NATO in the European East, or to annex Kyiv to it, especially since there are tensions between Moscow and the Ukrainian capital for years, no Especially in 2014, when Russian forces took control of Crimea.
