Russia, Ukraine Eastern Offensive Looming, Foreign Ministers of Both Countries Say "Difficulties in Progressing Peace Talks"

Ukraine Foreign Minister "Negotiations Became More Difficult After Meeting with Russian Side in Istanbul"

Mytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] As Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensifies, the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine have stated that progress in peace negotiations between the two sides is facing difficulties.

According to TASS on the 1st (local time), Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the negotiation process has become more difficult after meeting with the Russian side in Istanbul under Turkey's mediation several weeks ago.

Earlier, the Ukrainian delegation presented demands including security guarantees to the Russian side during the 5th round of peace talks held in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 29.

Minister Kuleba said, "At the Istanbul talks, we presented a draft agreement requesting international security guarantees for Ukraine, and the Russian side received it for further review. However, unfortunately, the progress of the peace negotiations has become more complicated since then."

Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, also stated in an interview that "the peace negotiations with Ukraine are at a stalemate."

Earlier, the Russian state-run Interfax news agency reported that Minister Lavrov blamed the Ukrainian side, saying, "The negotiations are stuck due to Ukraine's contradictory attitude," and claimed that Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are instructing Ukraine not to accelerate the negotiations.

Lavrov added, "Although the situation is not easy, Russia supports the continuation of negotiations, and an agreement can be reached when the Ukrainian government acts in the interests of the Ukrainian people rather than the advisors (the West) who have come from afar."

He also emphasized, "Despite the current Ukrainian leadership's anti-Russian stance, we remember the centuries-old history formed between the two countries in comprehensive fields such as culture and economy," and stated, "We will definitely restore these ties."

According to United Nations statistics, in the two months following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, a total of 6,134 civilian casualties occurred in Ukraine, including 2,899 deaths and 3,235 injuries. The number of Ukrainian refugees counted by the UN Refugee Agency exceeds 5,429,700.