Printed on Fri Aug 12 2022 5:22:07 AM
Putin hopes a 'positive result' from the talk
Russian President Vladimir Putin met the UN Secretary-General across his famous long white table earlier today, telling Antonio Gutierrez that negotiations with Ukraine continue online.
But Putin said he cannot sign security guarantees for Ukraine without deciding on territorial issues over Crimea and Sevastopol, annexed by Russia in 2014, and the Donbas – where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukraine for eight years.
He noted that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators made what he portrayed as a “serious breakthrough” in their discussion in Istanbul last month.
“There was a provocation in the village of Bucha, which the Russian Army had nothing to do with,” Putin said.
During the meeting, Guterres criticized Russia’s military action in Ukraine as a flagrant violation of its neighbor’s territorial integrity. He additionally asked Russia to allow the evacuation of civilians trapped in the steel factory.
He responded by claiming that the Russian forces had offered compassionate passages yet said the Ukrainian defenders of the plant were using civilians as shields and not permitting them to leave.
Ukrainian authorities have said that up to 1,000 civilians have been shielded in the maze of underground tunnels there. They have repeatedly urged Russia to offer them a safe exit, but previous attempts at organizing evacuations have failed repeatedly.
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Putin said he expects a “positive result” from the talks.
But Putin said he cannot sign security guarantees for Ukraine without deciding on territorial issues over Crimea and Sevastopol, annexed by Russia in 2014, and the Donbas – where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukraine for eight years.
He noted that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators made what he portrayed as a “serious breakthrough” in their discussion in Istanbul last month.
“There was a provocation in the village of Bucha, which the Russian Army had nothing to do with,” Putin said.
During the meeting, Guterres criticized Russia’s military action in Ukraine as a flagrant violation of its neighbor’s territorial integrity. He additionally asked Russia to allow the evacuation of civilians trapped in the steel factory.
He responded by claiming that the Russian forces had offered compassionate passages yet said the Ukrainian defenders of the plant were using civilians as shields and not permitting them to leave.
Ukrainian authorities have said that up to 1,000 civilians have been shielded in the maze of underground tunnels there. They have repeatedly urged Russia to offer them a safe exit, but previous attempts at organizing evacuations have failed repeatedly.
Read More:
UN Chief heading to Turkey ahead of Russia & Ukraine
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