Topline
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have reached agreement on enough elements of a potential peace agreement that it is ready to be discussed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a top Ukrainian negotiator said Saturday, according to Interfax Ukraine, and any meeting between the two presidents is likely to occur in Turkey, he said.
Key Facts
David Arakhamia, head of the Ukrainian delegation at the talks, said during an interview on Ukrainian television that Russian negotiators on Friday had agreed to all of Ukraine’s positions, except for its stance on Crimea.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russian negotiators have not agreed to the draft documents in writing, but did give a verbal answer on all Ukrainian positions, according to Arakhamia.
The Russian negotiators also agreed the draft documents were ready to be sent to Putin and Zelensky for direct discussions, Arakhamia said.
Arakhamia added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had spoken to Putin and Ukrainian officials on Friday, and “seemed to confirm” Turkish officials are ready to arrange a meeting in Turkey in the “near future.”
What To Watch For
Arakhamia said there is not a set date or venue for the direct talks between Putin and Zelensky, but said Ukrainian officials believe with a “high degree of probability” the meeting will take place in Istanbul or Ankara.
Key Background
Russia and Ukraine have been holding in-person and virtual peace talks in the past week , and both sides have described them as difficult in recent days. During talks in Turkey earlier this week, Ukrainian officials shared proposals for non-military negotiations regarding Crimea, and Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said the Russian side had proposed a meeting between Putin and Zelensky—something Russia previously hadn’t shown a willingness to do.
