Çavuşoğlu on Russian-Ukrainian Negotiations

The resumption of negotiations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine has become complicated, although the parties had initially come a long way, stated Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

“At first, we had made significant progress. You know that the sides were close to at least a ceasefire. They themselves announced it, but now the war has dragged on, the conditions have changed, and everything has become more complicated. There are different measurements. Unfortunately, many different areas have emerged for negotiations,” Çavuşoğlu's words are quoted by the Yeni Akit newspaper.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that there could be no talk of negotiations with Vladimir Zelensky. As reported earlier by media outlets, Zelensky's press secretary Sergey Nikiforov stated that Ukraine does not reject negotiations but asserts that these negotiations should be based on certain principles, including cash payments.

Later, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Kyiv's statement, telling RIA Novosti that, judging by Ukraine's legislation, Ukraine excludes the possibility of negotiations.

Russia began military operations in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called the aim “the protection of people who have been subjected to violence and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.” According to him, the plan is to carry out “the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine,” holding accountable all military criminals responsible for the “bloody crimes against citizens in Donbas.” The ultimate goal of the operation, according to the supreme commander, is “the liberation of Donbas and the creation of conditions that will guarantee Russia's security.”