The siege of Mariupol by Russian forces has further complicated the negotiation process for the war in Ukraine and it is difficult to estimate when the direct talks will be resumed, Ukrainian negotiator and adviser to the Ukrainian presidency Mikhail P. told Reuters today.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator has said it is difficult to predict when peace talks will resume due to the siege of Mariupol by Russia and Moscow’s desire to strengthen its position through a new military offensive.
In a written response to questions from Reuters, the Ukrainian official said he believed Moscow was betting on strengthening its military position in a new offensive launched in eastern Ukraine.
Kyiv and Moscow have not held face-to-face talks since March 29, and the atmosphere has been sharpened by claims by Ukraine that Russian troops committed atrocities in the city of Bucha near the Ukrainian capital. Moscow has denied the allegations, with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday awarding an honorary title for “heroism” to the 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is accused by Kyiv of taking part in massacres in the city.
Pontoliak told Reuters that the ongoing siege of Mariupol and the repeated failure of efforts to organize safe corridors to evacuate trapped Ukrainian civilians had also complicated matters.
“Obviously, in the wake of the Mariupol tragedy, the negotiation process has become even more complicated,” Pontoliak said, referring to the southern port where Moscow gave an ultimatum earlier today to Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries to surrender and leave the factory. Azovstal until today Moscow time (and Greek time) if they want to live.
“Russia provocatively denies any manifestation of humanitarianism when it comes to certain humanitarian corridors. “Especially when we talk about Mariupol”, he added.
The two sides have blamed each other for the collapse of peace talks and the failure of negotiations to open safe corridors for the evacuation of civilians.
The Ukrainian official said that some contacts are continuing online to “determine” agreements reached on future guarantees for Ukraine’s security, ensuring that they are in accordance with international law.
“It is difficult to say when the next face-to-face round of negotiations will be possible, because the Russians are seriously betting on making a profit from the so-called ‘second stage of the special operation,'” he said.
Local authorities say thousands of people have been killed in the siege of Mariupol.
Russia today called on the entire Ukrainian army to “lay down its arms” and the last defenders of the city of Mariupol to end their “senseless resistance.”
Pontoliak said Russia wanted to crush the last fighters in Mariupol for “internal propaganda” purposes.
Russia has denied since the beginning of the invasion that it is targeting civilians in its “special operation”, which it says is aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine and eradicating dangerous nationalists, and claims that far-right fighters are among Mariupol’s defenders. Kyiv and the West reject Russia’s claims as a pretext for an unprovoked invasion.
Moscow accuses Ukraine of directing atrocities to undermine peace talks, which President Putin said on April 12 were deadlocked.
Ukrainian troops have shown reporters the bodies of civilians they say were killed by Russian forces in the city of Butcha outside Kyiv after Russian troops withdrew. Reuters saw bodies in the city, but could not independently verify who was responsible for the killings.
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