The Ukrainian chief negotiator in the peace talks with Russia affirmed, Saturday, that Moscow had accepted “orally” the main proposals of his country. A meeting between the Zelensky and Putin presidents in Turkey is even mentioned.
Le Monde with AFP and Reuters
As long as Moscow has not given his version, it will be too early to talk about a major step towards an agreement between Russia and Ukraine. But the statements, Saturday, April 2, David Arakhamia suggest a hope of conciliation after more than five weeks of conflict.
Speaking on a televised program, the Chief Negotiator of the Ukrainian Party in the talks engaged in Istanbul (Turkey) with Russia has addressed several essential points of blocking between the two countries.
- La Crimea
“The Russian Federation has given an official response to all [Ukrainian] positions” formulated in the last peace talks in Istanbul, “that she accepts them, except for the question of Crimea “Assured Mr. Arakhamia. The latter added that there was “no official confirmation in writing”, the Russian party simply manifested “orally”.
In the Crimea, Moscow would have refused the proposal to negotiate for a period of fifteen years the future status of this Ukrainian region, annexed by Russia in 2014.
m. On the other hand, Arakhamia did not mention the cases of Donetsk and Louhansk, the two separatist Ukrainian provinces of Donbass, including the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, acknowledged independence.
- the neutrality of Ukraine
The Ukrainian negotiator pointed out that Moscow had admitted, during the talks, a referendum on the neutrality of Ukraine would be “the only way out of this situation”. “[If kyiv did not agree to such a status,” we would return either to a state of war, perhaps, or to new negotiations, “he added.
The Kremlin emphasized that Ukraine had to give up entering the Atlantic Alliance (NATO) and opt for neutrality.
- The conditions of a Zelensky meeting. Putin
m. Arakhamia also stated that if a meeting between the Ukrainian presidents, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian, Vladimir Putin, must finally take place, it would take place “most likely” in Turkey.
The Turkish head, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who welcomed this week in his country the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, “called us and Vladimir Putin”, Friday, saying that he would welcome such a meeting, Did he reveal? “We do not know the date or place, but we think it will most likely be in Ankara or Istanbul,” said Mr. Arakhamia.
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, February 24, Volodymyr Zelansky has continued to claim head-to-face interviews with Putin.
No Moscow reaction has come to corroborate Mr. Arakhamia’s statements. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on Saturday, in an interview with Belarusian television, that negotiations with Ukraine were delicate. “Ukraine is a very difficult country, very difficult with us. It shows a lot of hostility to us,” he said. “The most important thing is that negotiations continue, whether in Istanbul or elsewhere,” he added.