AFP, Moscow :
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky could meet for the first time as early as this month, in talks aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Hopes for the meeting follow an agreement this week between Ukrainian, Russian and separatist negotiators on a roadmap for the regions held by Russian-backed separatists.
The Ukrainian conflict broke out in 2014 and has since claimed more than 13,000 lives.
The talks would also bring together the leaders of France and Germany, for the first meeting of its kind since 2016.
Preparations for what are known as the “Normandy talks” come after negotiators from all sides on Tuesday adopted plans to provide special status for Ukraine’s separatist-held territories and hold elections there.
The sudden ascent to power of actor and comedian Zelensky, who campaigned on promises to end the war, raised hopes for an improvement in ties between Ukraine and Russia.
Last month, the two countries carried out a long-awaited swap of 35 prisoners each.
Moscow has said a number of conditions should be met before the four-way “Normandy” summit can take place.
Arguably the most important condition for Kiev was to agree on a plan with Moscow-backed separatists known as the “Steinmeier formula.”
Moscow has been pushing for the separatist-held territories to be granted a large degree of autonomy and the plan proposed by Steinmeier in 2015 is seen as a potential compromise between Kiev and Moscow.
The peace plan envisages special status for territories controlled by Moscow-backed separatists if they conduct free and fair elections under the Ukrainian constitution.
After the negotiators adopted the plan on Tuesday, Zelensky said the last barriers to conducting a high-profile summit had been removed. But the announcement sparked anger in Ukraine where broader autonomy for the separatist-held regions remains an explosive issue.
Zelensky’s predecessor Petro Poroshenko called the plan “Putin’s formula”, claiming it essentially endorses the annexation of Crimea, and hundreds of protesters rallied in Kiev on Tuesday night.
Zelensky has sought to allay fears, saying elections in east Ukraine will not take place before the withdrawal of pro-Russian forces.
“No elections can or will be held at gun point,” Zelensky told a news conference.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that it will “soon” become clear when the summit could take place.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been hugely instrumental in bringing Russia and Ukraine closer after years in the deep freeze..
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky could meet for the first time as early as this month, in talks aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Hopes for the meeting follow an agreement this week between Ukrainian, Russian and separatist negotiators on a roadmap for the regions held by Russian-backed separatists.
The Ukrainian conflict broke out in 2014 and has since claimed more than 13,000 lives.
The talks would also bring together the leaders of France and Germany, for the first meeting of its kind since 2016.
Preparations for what are known as the “Normandy talks” come after negotiators from all sides on Tuesday adopted plans to provide special status for Ukraine’s separatist-held territories and hold elections there.
The sudden ascent to power of actor and comedian Zelensky, who campaigned on promises to end the war, raised hopes for an improvement in ties between Ukraine and Russia.
Last month, the two countries carried out a long-awaited swap of 35 prisoners each.
Moscow has said a number of conditions should be met before the four-way “Normandy” summit can take place.
Arguably the most important condition for Kiev was to agree on a plan with Moscow-backed separatists known as the “Steinmeier formula.”
Moscow has been pushing for the separatist-held territories to be granted a large degree of autonomy and the plan proposed by Steinmeier in 2015 is seen as a potential compromise between Kiev and Moscow.
The peace plan envisages special status for territories controlled by Moscow-backed separatists if they conduct free and fair elections under the Ukrainian constitution.
After the negotiators adopted the plan on Tuesday, Zelensky said the last barriers to conducting a high-profile summit had been removed. But the announcement sparked anger in Ukraine where broader autonomy for the separatist-held regions remains an explosive issue.
Zelensky’s predecessor Petro Poroshenko called the plan “Putin’s formula”, claiming it essentially endorses the annexation of Crimea, and hundreds of protesters rallied in Kiev on Tuesday night.
Zelensky has sought to allay fears, saying elections in east Ukraine will not take place before the withdrawal of pro-Russian forces.
“No elections can or will be held at gun point,” Zelensky told a news conference.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that it will “soon” become clear when the summit could take place.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been hugely instrumental in bringing Russia and Ukraine closer after years in the deep freeze..
