News Desk :
Delegations for Russia and Ukraine have wrapped up their talks near the Belarusian border, both countries said Monday.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the two sides “mapped out” a “roadmap” for negotiations to continue and the delegations headed back to their respective capitals, according to CNN.
CBS News reports Ukraine called for an immediate ceasefire and for Russia to withdraw all of its troops in Ukraine-demands that were not agreed to at the meeting.
The delegations discussed holding another set of talks, Podolyak said.
Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the Russian Duma’s committee on international affairs, told Russian state media the negotiations concluded, per NBC News, indicating the discussions went well, “We were not sure if the conversation would work, but it did.”
Ukrainian and Russian officials wrapped up a critical round of talks Monday near the border with Belarus, reports CNBC.
Officials from both countries said the sides could hold more negotiations amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s armed forces continue to hold off Russian troops, defending and retaining control of key cities, and slowing Russia’s advance on Kyiv.
Meanwhile, the central bank of Russia more than doubled its key interest rate on Monday, as the ruble plummeted after heavy sanctions were imposed on Moscow by the West.
The first round of talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations held at the border with Belarus has ended, reports Al Jazeera.
The outcome of the negotiations was not made public. The talks carried on for several hours and broke down twice, al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull said, adding that the length of the meeting “suggests they had something to talk about.”
Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia will return to their capital cities for consultations. The Russian delegation head, Vladimir Medinsky, said the two sides had “agreed to keep the negotiations going.”
The first round of talks with Russia about ending the fighting in Ukraine has concluded, and more talks could happen soon, an adviser to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, reports AP.
Meanwhile, the president has signed an application for his country to join the European Union, in a bid to solidify his country’s bond with the West.
Mr Zelensky has posted photos of himself signing the application, and his office says the paperwork is on its way to Brussels, where the 27-nation EU has its headquarters.
At this stage, Ukraine is many years away from reaching the standards for achieving EU membership, and the 27-nation bloc is expansion-weary and unlikely to take on new members any time soon.
Also, any addition to the EU must be approved unanimously, and some member states have complicated approval procedures.
Overall, the consensus has been that Ukraine’s deep-seated corruption could make it hard for the country to win EU acceptance. Still, in an interview with Euronews on Sunday, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said: “We want them in the European Union.”
Regarding negotiations with Russia, Mykhailo Podolyak gave few details except to say that the talks, held near the Ukraine-Belarus border, were focused on a possible ceasefire and that a second round could take place “in the near future”.
