• Saturday, 23 November 2024

Belarus: Third round of talks between Kiev and Moscow end

Belarus: Third round of talks between Kiev and Moscow end
Berlin, 7 March 2022 (dpa/MIA) - The third round of negotiations between Kiev and Moscow following Russia's attack on Ukraine ended on Monday evening in Belarus after about three hours, according to Belarusian state media citing the Russian embassy. The results of the discussion were not immediately known, and there was still no confirmation from the Ukrainian side about the status. The Belarusian state agency Belta published a picture of the delegations at a table. The Ukrainian presidential advisor Mychajlo Podoljak also took part in the negotiations this time. Among other things, the representatives of both countries wanted to talk about the establishment of humanitarian corridors to let civilians in contested areas safely flee. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky had complained that none of the corridors were functional and put the blame on Ukraine. Both sides had agreed on escape corridors at their second meeting last Thursday. At the weekend, however, two attempts to evacuate residents of the city of Mariupol in south-eastern Ukraine failed. Both sides accused each other of violating an agreed ceasefire. A planned rescue of civilians from embattled towns also failed to make headway on Monday. As a condition for a total stop to its war, Russia is demanding that Ukraine declare itself neutral in its constitution. In addition, Kiev must recognize the annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as Russian and the separatist areas as independent.