The group of Ukrainian negotiators arrived in the area where the talks with Russia will take place shortly before 11 in the morning.
Before the two sides sat down at the table, the Ukrainian side demanded an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops, the Ukrainian presidency announced.
“The Ukrainian delegation has reached the Ukraine-Belarus border zone to take part in the negotiations,” the statement said. “The important issue is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from Ukrainian territory.”
The talks will take place in Belarus, very close to the border with Ukraine, in the Gomel region and a short distance from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which is located on Ukrainian territory.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. He is mainly accompanied by Mikhail Pontoliak, advisor to the Ukrainian presidency.
On the fifth day of its invasion, Moscow said it wanted to reach an “agreement” with Kyiv in today’s talks, at a time when its attack appears to be meeting more resistance than expected.
“Every time the conflict escalates, there are Ukrainian civilians and soldiers who die. “We agreed to reach an agreement, but it should be in the interest of both sides,” Russian negotiator and Kremlin adviser Vladimir Medinsky told television.
Video of Ruptly from the arrival of the Ukrainian delegation (-6.23 minutes)
The Ukrainian delegation arrived in the area of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border to take part in talks with representatives of the Russian Federation ➡️ https://t.co/RKxx6801eh
– Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 28, 2022
Shortly before the arrival of the Ukrainians on the Belarus-Ukraine border, Moscow stated that it was interested in reaching an agreement that was in the interest of both sides.
The statement was made by Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky.
Medinski stated that the negotiations are expected to start at 12:00 (local time, 11:00 Greek time).
Belarus’s Foreign Ministry has released a photo of the site of the current Russia-Ukraine talks.
“In Belarus, everything is ready to host Russia-Ukraine negotiations. “Waiting for the delegations to arrive,” the ministry tweeted around 9 a.m. local time.
BeIn Belarus, everything is ready to host Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Waiting for delegations to arrive pic.twitter.com/WSnPMyChwg
– Belarus MFA ???????? (@BelarusMFA) February 28, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that the Ukrainian and Russian delegations would meet unconditionally in Pripyat, Belarus.
Zelensky said he was not sure that progress would be made, but that he would try.
“I will honestly say, as always, that I do not believe in the outcome of this meeting,” he said. “But let us try so that no citizen of Ukraine has any doubt that I, as president, did not try to stop the war when there was even one chance.”
Meanwhile, following the lifting of the two-day curfew, the Russian military confirmed this morning that civilians can leave Kyiv “freely”while accusing the Ukrainian authorities of using them as human shields.
Ukrainian secret services: Belarus ready to invade alongside Russians
Belarus is ready to take part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian secret services.
Kiev government officials told CNN that in addition to allowing Russians to use Belarussian territory and cross its border, Minsk appeared to be ready to take part directly in the war.
A second source close to the Ukrainian government told CNN that in addition to the Ukrainian secret services, the US government Biden has informed Ukraine that Belarus is preparing to invade its territory.
The information was first transmitted by the Washington Post, citing US government officials.
The Lukashenko government is a close ally of Vladimir Putin and has allowed Russian troops to invade Ukraine from its territory.
Negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations are scheduled to begin today on the Belarus-Ukraine border.
“Alexander Lukashenko has pledged to ensure that all planes, helicopters and missiles on Belarusian soil remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation’s trip, meeting and return,” the Ukrainian office said in a statement. President Zelensky.
The harsh sanctions of the West
The EU has decided to send armaments to Ukraineclosed its airspace to Russian troops, while banning the Russian state media.
Member States will also receive Ukrainian refugees in their territories, bypassing the usual asylum application procedures. Several European countries and the United States have announced the exclusion of Russian banks from the SWIFT system.
The ruble is sinking to a new low against the dollar, following sanctions.
The UN is convening today Extraordinary meetingwith the participation of all 193 members.
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