There are small positive steps in improving logistics for humanitarian corridors, said Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said there should be another attempt on Tuesday to get people to safety via the corridors. Video: ORF correspondent Christian Wehrschütz on the current situation in Ukraine:
“Not met expectations”
Overall, however, he was disappointed with the meeting on Monday. “The expectations were not met,” Medinski said on Russian state television. The Russian side brought a number of prepared documents to the negotiations. However, the Ukrainian side did not want to sign anything, but took the papers with them for examination. According to Medinski, a new, fourth round of negotiations is expected shortly, in which the agreements could be put into writing.
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“With a view to the political bloc, which includes a ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities in general, the intensive consultations will continue,” urged the Ukrainian Podoliak. However, there are no results for a noticeable improvement in the situation. “Nevertheless, the deliberations will continue and we will get a result.”
Meanwhile, the leaders of the US, Germany, France and Britain have called on Russia to halt its attack on Ukraine “and to withdraw its troops completely”. It was agreed that the protection of the civilian population must currently have the highest priority, it said after a joint video conference.
Negotiations lasted three hours
The third round of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow after Russia’s attack on Ukraine lasted around three hours in Belarus. The Belarusian state agency Belta published a picture of the delegations at a table on the Telegram news channel.
Both sides had already agreed on escape corridors at their second meeting last Thursday. At the weekend, however, two attempts to evacuate residents of the port city of Mariupol in south-eastern Ukraine, which was under Russian siege, failed. Both sides accused each other of violating an agreed ceasefire. A planned rescue of civilians from embattled cities did not progress on Monday either. Furthermore, tens of thousands have to hold out in protective bunkers, where touching scenes also take place:
More than 400 dead civilians
As a condition for a cessation of fighting, Russia is demanding that Ukraine declare itself neutral in its constitution. In addition, Kyiv must recognize the annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as Russian and the separatist areas as independent.
As diplomatic efforts continue on day 12 of the Russian invasion, the UN reports more than 400 civilians dead. The actual number of victims is likely to be many times higher. Recently, 13 people died in an air raid on a bakery in Kyiv. Moscow is also said to be massing its troops and planning a full-scale attack on the capital. In addition, Russia reports territorial gains in the east.
Source: Nachrichten
