The Russian delegation arrived for negotiations with Ukraine in Gomel, where, according to Dmitry Peskov, Kyiv offered to hold a meeting. But in the office of Vladimir Zelensky they said they were ready for a meeting, but not in Belarus
Photo: Ilya Galakhov / Global Look Press
Russia is manipulating the negotiation process with Ukraine, announcing the upcoming talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Gomel, Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the office of the Ukrainian president, said in a statement. According to him, Ukraine is ready for negotiations, but not in Belarus.
“Russia is trying to put unacceptable ultimatum conditions on Ukraine, which we have already sharply and categorically refused. Because everyone knows perfectly well what the negotiations should be like in the current conditions. Agreed format, agreed place, real content and a fair result. This is possible if Russia stops making manipulative representations around the talks,” Podolyak said, saying reports of the talks in Gomel “humiliate” Belarus.
Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov pointed out that it was Ukraine that proposed Gomel as a place for negotiations with Russia. “The city of Gomel was proposed by the Ukrainian side – namely the Ukrainian side – as a place for negotiations. As we have already said, the Russian delegation is ready for these negotiations on the spot,” Peskov said, quoted by TASS.
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that Russian representatives would wait until 3 p.m. today for Ukraine’s confirmation of a meeting in Gomel.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced his readiness for negotiations with Russia the day after Moscow launched a special military operation. The Ukrainian leader said that he had not received an answer from European leaders whether the country would become a NATO member, and expressed his readiness to discuss with Russia security guarantees for Ukraine and its neutral status.