War in Ukraine: Conditions not yet met for a Putin-Zelensky summit, according to Moscow

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have yet to draft a peace deal that allows for summit meetings, including between Vladimir Putin and Volodimir Zelensky, the top Russian negotiator said on Sunday, as the war in Ukraine entered its 39th day.

Vladimir Medinsky clarified on the Telegram application that Moscow’s position on the status of the Crimeaannexed in 2014, and Donbasswhere the Kremlin recognized the independence of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhanskwas unchanged and that the negotiations with Kiev would resume on Monday.

A Ukrainian negotiator, David Arakhamia, said on Saturday that the Russia had indicated that it had accepted most of the written proposals made by Kiev during the last peace talks in Istanbul, with the exception of that on the status of Crimea, and said it was open to direct consultations between the two heads of state.

“Russia’s position on Crimea and Donbass remains UNCHANGED”

Vladimir Medinsky has tempered expectations on this subject. “The Draft Agreement (of peace) is not ready to be submitted to a summit meeting”assured the Russian negotiator.

“I repeat once more and once more: Russia’s position on Crimea and Donbass remains UNCHANGED”he added on his Telegram loop, as Moscow in recent days withdrew its troops from the kyiv region and said it was concentrating on conquering the entire territory of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, including the besieged city. of Marioupol.

Russian missiles also struck early Sunday morning fuel depots in the strategic port ofOdessaon the shores of the Black Sea.