They are the first talks without preconditions that the two countries will hold since the invasion
A delegation of members of the governments of Russia and Ukraine will meet in the next few hours to try to negotiate a ceasefire, President Volomidir Zelenski explained on Sunday. This is the first time that representatives of the two states will hold a talk since the invasion of Ukraine last Thursday, and it will take place without preconditions. Russian President Vladimir Putin had demanded on Friday that the Ukrainians lay down their arms to hold these negotiations.
The representatives will meet near the Pripyat River, on the border between Belarus and Ukraine. The deal was made after a telephone conversation between Zelensky and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.
Despite this announcement, Putin reported this Sunday that he was ordering his “deterrent forces” to be put on special combat alert. This division is responsible for maintaining Russia’s nuclear arsenal, the second largest in the world.
“They see that Western countries are not only hostile to our country in the economic field, I am referring to illegitimate sanctions,” added the president, in a televised speech. “Senior officials of leading NATO countries also allow aggressive statements against our country,” Putin noted.
Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday morning. Since then, troops have entered the country from the north, east and south, but have faced fierce resistance from Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian authorities say some Russian troops are demoralized and exhausted, saying dozens have surrendered.