World watches as Ukraine-Russia talks set for Tuesday in Turkey
The latest developments on Monday related with the Russian invasion of Ukraine have the Kremlin saying that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine may get under way in Turkey on Tuesday, adding that it was important that talks be held face-to-face, despite scant progress in negotiations so far.
In Kiev, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy used a video interview with independent Russian media outlets to signal his willingness to discuss, as he said, Ukraine adopting a “neutral status”, along with compromises over the status of the eastern Donbas region – all in order to secure a peace agreement with Russia.
However, he said he was not willing to discuss Ukraine’s demilitarization, whereas Ukrainian citizens would need to vote in a referendum to approve their country adopting such a neutral status.
On the battlefield, the southeastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster, and must be completely evacuated, its mayor said.
Vadym Boichenko said about 160,000 civilians were trapped in the city without power.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian military on Monday claimed that Russia has withdrawn troops that were surrounding Kiev, the capital, after suffering significant losses.
Elsewhere, US president Joe Biden has denied he has called for regime change in Russia, after he said during a visit to Poland that Vladimir Putin “…cannot remain in power”.
When asked by a reporter if he wanted to see the Russian president removed from office, he responded “no”.
Zelensky to address Greek Parliament on April 7
Finally, Ukrainian President Zelensky will address Greece’s Parliament on Thursday, April 7, via a video conference.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis invited Zelensky to speak by teleconference during a telephone conversation they had on March 25.
Source: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
