Kiev, Europe Brief News – Representatives of Ukraine and Russia have reached Belarus for ceasefire talks.
The meeting came as the Russian incursion into Kyiv continues for the eighth day.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have started a new round of talks, Ukraine’s presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said.
Podoliak further said the talks would focus on pushing for a “humanitarian corridor” and an immediate cease-fire.
The location of the meeting was believed to be on the Poland-Belarus border. However, Belarusian state media said the talks were held in Belarus.
On Monday, the first round of talks yielded no breakthrough. Ukraine has said it would not accept any “ultimatums” by Russia. However, Putin said Moscow could add further demands if Kyiv stalls the talks.
“Attempts to buy time by dragging out the negotiations only lead to additional demands on Kiyv in our negotiating position,” Putin told French President Macron in a phone call on Thursday, according to a readout by the Kremlin.
‘Worst Is Yet to Come’
French officials said the phone call between President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, left the French leader believing that “the worst is yet to come.”
The Elysee palace said earlier that Putin and Macron spoke for 90 minutes about the situation in Ukraine. This came as Paris continues to seek de-escalation.
According to French officials, Putin has initiated the call phone, who said his army’s “operation” was going “according to the plan” that Moscow had earlier declared.
“There was nothing in what President Putin said that could reassure us,” a French presidential adviser told reporters, adding that Putin had reiterated his “narrative” that he was seeking the “denazification of Ukraine.”
“‘You are lying to yourself’,” Macron further told Putin, according to the official. “‘It will cost your country dearly. Your country will end up isolated, weakened and under sanctions for a very long time’.”
Macron had slammed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But he said he would remain in contact with Putin “to convince him to renounce armed force.”
