According to reports from Russia’s Tass news agency, the second round of Ukraine-Russia talks is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2nd, although nothing has been officially confirmed, and comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled he was not ready for more negotiations.
Russia and Ukraine held their first round of talks in Belarus on Monday. No tangible progress was made, but the two sides agreed to hold another round soon that is expected to be held on the border of Belarus and Poland.
One of the Tass reports cited a Russian source and the other cited Ukrainian media outlets. The Ukrainian outlet Glavkom cited Ukrainian sources who said Russia laid out its terms to Ukraine during the first round of talks. The sources said Russia wants Kyiv to commit to neutrality at the parliamentary level and organize a referendum on this matter.
Russia also wants Ukraine to recognize the breakaway Donbas republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and drop its demand for Russia to return Crimea. For their part, Glavkom said Ukraine asked for a ceasefire and for Russia to withdraw its troops.
In an interview with Western media outlets on Tuesday, Zelensky said a halt to Russian attacks was necessary for more talks. “It’s necessary to at least stop bombing people, just stop the bombing and then sit down at the negotiating table,” he said.
Turkey also cast doubt on the idea that the next round of talks could start as soon on Wednesday. “It will most likely be postponed a couple of days, we are in touch with the negotiating teams,” Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Tuesday.
Going through the motions. Russia presented its surrender terms. Ukraine can accept them or have its government crushed. Their choice.