Russia’s foreign minister: “Ukraine military operation proceeds as planned”
▲ Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleva insisted that the international community be held accountable for Russia’s aggression at the UN General Assembly in New York, USA. 2022.2.24 Reuters Yonhap News
High-level talks were held for the first time since the start of the war between Ukraine and Russia, but no ceasefire agreement was reached.
Russia declared that it would not stop the war until its purpose was achieved, and the talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries ended without progress, only exposing differences of opinion.
According to Reuters and AFP on the 10th (local time), Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleva and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Antalya, southern Turkey, on the same day.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Ceaushoulu sat in the middle of a table set up in the shape of a digit and acted as the mediator.
The talks lasted more than an hour, but ended after repeating the positions of both sides without agreeing to a 24-hour ceasefire to resolve humanitarian issues.
“It seems that there are other decision makers in Russia on this issue,” Kuleva said.
“The basic position of Minister Lavrov is that Russia will continue to attack until Ukraine grants its demands,” he said.
▲ Abandoned Russian army tank captured in the Sumy region of Ukraine on the 7th (local time). Reuters News 1
However, Kuleva said they had reached an agreement to continue working towards resolving humanitarian issues with Russia.
“Ukraine has not and will not surrender,” he said.
Delegations from the governments of Ukraine and Russia have held negotiations in Belarus on three occasions since last week, but without a breakthrough. The two sides are also pursuing a fourth round of negotiations.
Ukraine has urged Russia to immediately cease operations and withdraw Russian troops.
On the other hand, Russia listed as key requirements for halting military action, recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, abandonment of NATO membership, and ‘de-Naziization’ and ‘demilitarization’.
It also added a demand for recognizing the sovereignty of the eastern Donbas-Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where Russia has recognized independence.
Reporter Kim Chae-hyun
