For the ongoing ceasefire decision between Russia and Ukraine, the whole world is focused on the results of the talks held by the delegations. As the 12th day was left behind in the Russian-Ukrainian war, which started on February 24, 2022, new statements came from Russia. Did Russia declare a ceasefire?
DID RUSSIA DECLARE A truce?
Russia has decided on a temporary ceasefire in order to create a humanitarian corridor. In the second round of talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, an agreement was reached on the creation of a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians in the cities under attack.
As Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continued on its 12th day, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitriy Peskov made a statement about the ceasefire. Stating that the operations could stop “at any moment” if Ukraine accepts its demands, Peskov said that “Ukraine should change the constitution and abandon its efforts to join any bloc” and that Ukraine should comply with its neutrality status.
Underlining that the operations were initiated with the aim of disarming Ukraine, Peskov said, “Actually, we are completing the disarmament of Ukraine, we will. They should end this hostility,” he said. Putting forward the conditions for Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk in the continuation of his terms, Peskov said, “We want Crimea to be recognized as part of Russia, and the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic to be recognized as independent states.”
WHAT IS THE LATEST SITUATION IN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS?
After Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, negotiations between Ukraine and Russia continue. The third round of negotiation talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, which did not get positive results in the first two meetings, started at 17:00 CET in Belovezhskaya Pushcha region of Belarus.
The delegations of Russia and Ukraine made separate statements before meeting. Heading the Russian delegation, Russian Vice President Vladimir Medinskiy said, “The humanitarian corridors in Donbass and other cities that we promised before are kept open. Today, we will discuss the situation of these corridors with the Ukrainian side,” he said.
Medinskiy said that they regret that the civilians could not be evacuated due to the ongoing clashes in the humanitarian corridors despite the ceasefire, and said, “We regret that the humanitarian corridors opened in cities for the evacuation of civilians could not be used actively, despite the agreements reached in the last round of negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.” Medinskiy, who also argues that the evacuation of civilians was prevented by Ukrainian nationalists, said: “Nationalists who have seized positions in cities continue to keep civilians there, using them as indirect and direct human shields.”
Mihaylo Podolyak, Chief Advisor to the President of Ukraine, who headed Ukraine’s delegation, made a statement before the meeting and said, “In a few minutes, we will start talking with representatives of a country that seriously believes that large-scale attacks on civilians is an argument.”