Russia has stopped issuing ‘ultimatums’ ahead of crisis talks, Ukraine says

As both sides meet for a fourth round of crisis talks, Ukraine has revealed some key changes in Russia’s behaviour that could be a sign.

Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma's International Affairs Committee speaks to the media following the Russian-Ukrainian talks in Belarus' Brest region last week. Picture: Maxim GUCHEK / BELTA / AFP

Russia has stopped issuing “ultimatums” and instead “carefully listens to our positions” ahead of the latest crisis talks, Ukraine has said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that ongoing talks to halt two weeks of fighting with Russia were progressing with difficulty, but raised hopes a breakthrough could be announced later in the day.

The Ukrainian leader confirmed that “difficult negotiations” were underway with the Russian side, aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to Moscow’s invasion of his pro-Western country.

“A video meeting between the delegations has already started today. It continues,” Zelensky said in a video statement Monday.

“Everyone is waiting for news. We will definitely report in the evening.”

The parties actively express their specified positions. Communication is being held yet it’s hard. The reason for the discord is too different political systems. 🇺🇦 is a free dialogue within the society & an obligatory consensus. 🇷🇺 is an ultimatum suppression of its own society pic.twitter.com/O00fnCd1WP

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 14, 2022

Kyiv’s lead negotiator and presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak posted a picture on Twitter of video-conference talks with Russian officials and described the negotiations as “hard”, saying that the two sides were outlining their “specific positions”.

A “pause” took place in negotiations but Podolyak said they would “continue” tomorrow.

Both sides indicated over the weekend that they were making headway.

Russia’s negotiators hailed “significant progress” while Podolyak said Moscow’s delegation had stopped issuing “ultimatums” and instead “carefully listens to our positions”.

Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma's International Affairs Committee. Picture: Maxim GUCHEK / BELTA / AFP

The talks between Kyiv and Moscow have yet to yield a ceasefire and Russian forces have shown no sign of easing their onslaught.

In an attack dangerously close to NATO member Poland, Russian air strikes on a Ukrainian military training ground near the border killed at least 35 people and wounded more than 130.

Zelensky has renewed his call for NATO to impose a no-fly zone following the attack near the western city of Lviv.

“If you do not close our sky, it is only a matter of time before Russian missiles fall on your territory, on NATO territory, on the homes of NATO citizens,” Zelensky said in a video address.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks face to camera in a street of Kyiv on March 11.

A man wounded in air strikes at a nearby military complex is assisted by medical staff outside Novoiavorivsk District Hospital on March 13, 2022 in Novoiavorivsk, Ukraine. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Ukraine also said it would also demand an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops during the fourth round of negotiations to end more than two weeks of fighting after Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine.

“Peace, an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Russians troops — and only after this can we talk about regional relations and about political differences,” Podolyak said.

Negotiations. 4th round. On peace, ceasefire, immediate withdrawal of troops & security guarantees. Hard discussion. Although Russia realizes the nonsense of its aggressive actions, it still has a delusion that 19 days of violence against 🇺🇦 peaceful cities is the right strategy pic.twitter.com/BhFLgBSKiu

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 14, 2022

Slutsky, a senior member of Russia’s negotiating team, told the state-run television network RT that “significant progress” was made following several rounds of talks hosted on the border of neighbouring Belarus.

“If we compare the positions of both delegations at the start of the talks and now, we see significant progress,” he told the network according to Russian news agencies.

“My own expectations are that this progress could develop over the next few days into a unified position held by both delegations in documents to be signed,” agencies cited him as saying.

Negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv have held several rounds of talks since Putin sent in troops to the country. Turkey this week hosted a first meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stands in a hall prior to a meeting with his Belarus' counterpart at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 11. Picture: Mikhail KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP

Zelensky said Saturday that Russia had adopted a “fundamentally different approach” in the talks.

Meanwhile Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered his army into Ukraine on February 24, this week said there had been “some positive shifts” in the dialogue and that negotiations were being held almost daily.

Washington and its EU allies have sent funds and military aid to Ukraine and imposed unprecedented economic sanctions on Russia.

But the United States has ruled out any direct intervention, with President Joe Biden warning that NATO fighting Russia “is World War III”.

Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron Sunday and the two leaders “underscored their commitment to hold Russia accountable for its actions and support the government and people of Ukraine,” the White House said.