21 January 2025
23:08
5.2 magnitude earthquake strikes western Turkey
22:56
Total of 7.81% of voters cast their ballots early in Belarus election
22:25 Conflict in Syria
French court issues new arrest warrant for ex-Syrian president Assad — media
22:03
West's illegal actions set stage for terrorism in Africa — Russian envoy to UN
21:44
Four wounded in stabbing attack in Tel Aviv — portal
21:32 Middle East conflict
One of Hezbollah leaders dies in armed attack in Western Beqaa
21:13
Western countries using ‘hidden veto’ to block UNSC resolutions — Russian mission
21:11
Death toll in Turkish hotel fire climbs to 76 — interior minister
20:43 Middle East conflict
Israel Defense Forces claims killing 20,000 Hamas militants in 15 months
20:16 Conflict in Syria
Syria terminates Tartus port management contract with Russian company
19:50
Parade of planets to be visible from inside Russia until mid-March — scientists
19:30
Slovak PM calls for postponing Kiev’s NATO membership for peace talks
19:05 Ukraine crisis
US wants lasting peace in Ukraine — top diplomat
19:03 Military operation in Ukraine
Kadyrov says drones destroyed Ukrainian firing positions equipped with Starlink
18:58
Russia to continue supporting Cuba — Russian diplomat
18:48 Coronavirus pandemic
Von der Leyen’s vaccine purchase transparency case to continue — plaintiff
18:47
Melania Trump captures global mood with inauguration outfit — fashion expert
18:46 Military operation in Ukraine
Gas pipeline damaged in Kakhovka after Ukrainian attack
18:44 Ukraine crisis
Orban says Ukraine shouldn’t dictate terms to Hungary, Slovakia
18:30 Coronavirus pandemic
Belgian court throws out von der Leyen’s vaccine transparency case
18:20
Talks between Putin, Xi Jinping important as US seeks to divide them — analyst
18:20 Energy crisis in Europe
Europe will have to boost LNG purchases in 2025, IEA says
18:19
Trump’s Greenland statements could ignite conflict inside NATO — expert
18:09
Trump aims at long-term deterrence of Russia — nominee
17:40 Middle East conflict
Gaza officials peg damage from hostilities at $38 bln
17:38
Global oil market can maintain balance — expert
17:28 Middle East conflict
Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 47,100 — health ministry
17:22
Russia’s LNG output up by 8% in 2024, exports can be cut by 5% in 2025 — IEA
17:21 Middle East conflict
Death toll from Israel’s operation in Jenin in West Bank up to 8
17:20 Middle East conflict
Putin commends Egypt’s role in mediating Israel-Hamas deal
17:17 Energy crisis in Europe
IEA does not expect resumption of Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine in 2025
17:14
Iran to be Trump’s biggest test in Middle East — portal
17:12
Drunken American goes on rampage in Moscow cafe over Trump’s inauguration
17:11 Ukraine crisis
Hungary, Slovakia demand from Ukraine to find gas transit solution — Orban
17:10 Tourism
Over two mln tourists travel between Russia, China in 2024
17:07
Putin, El-Sisi discussed construction of nuclear power plant — Kremlin
17:05 Military operation in Ukraine
Kursk governor condemns Ukraine's killing of civilians in local village as genocide
17:00 Ukraine crisis
Slovakia not involved in Ukraine conflict, wants peace — Fico
16:44
IEA reports 7% increase in gas output in Russia in 2024, raised its estimate for 2025
16:33
Russia’s LNG exports to Europe up by 17% in 2024 — IEA
All news
28 Mar 2022, 10:58

Face-to-face Russia-Ukraine talks important, no progress achieved yet — Kremlin spokesman

Earlier, it was reported that Russian and Ukrainian delegations had agreed to meet face to face on March 29-30
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov Mikhail Metzel/TASS
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov
© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has described as important the very instance of plans for face-to-face talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, but the Kremlin sees no progress for the time being.

"We cannot and will not speculate about progress for the time being, but the very decision to go ahead with face-to-face talks is important, of course," Peskov told the media about plans for a face-to-face meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegates in Istanbul.

"For now, we prefer to follow a policy of not disclosing any details of the talks. We believe that otherwise we might harm the negotiating process," Peskov said.

About the date set for the Istanbul talks Peskov said that they were "unlikely" to begin today.

"The delegation is leaving for Turkey today. We expect that theoretically this may happen tomorrow," he added. In general, he said that "face-to-face meetings allow for conducting talks in a more focused, tighter and meaningful way."

"Regrettably, we cannot say there have been any significant achievements or breakthroughs so far," Peskov concluded.

He refrained from comments when asked about Russia’s expectations ahead of the Istanbul negotiations. Also, Peskov preferred to keep quiet when asked if certain countries, such as Poland, which had taken the liberty of using unfriendly rhetoric in relation to Moscow, might participate in hypothetical Russian-Ukrainian agreements in the capacity of guarantors.

"We prefer not to go into the details of the talks. We believe this would be not feasible and harmful for the negotiating process," he said.

Delegations’ talks

Earlier, the chief Russian delegate, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, said on his Telegram channel that Russian and Ukrainian delegations had agreed to meet face to face on March 29-30. Later, the office of the Turkish leader said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed the delegations would meet in Istanbul.

The first round of Russian-Ukrainian talks took place in the Gomel Region of Belarus on February 28. The first meeting lasted for five hours. Later the delegations met face-to-face twice and also held talks by video link.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 launched a special military operation in Ukraine following a request for assistance from the leaders of two Donbass republics. He has repeatedly stated that Moscow had no plans for an occupation of Ukraine, its sole purpose being the country’s demilitarization and denazification and struggle against nationalist armed militants directly responsible for genocide in Donbass.