Russian and Ukrainian officials yesterday gave their most optimistic assessments of progress on cease-fire talks, suggesting there could be positive results within days.
“We will not concede in principle on any positions,” Ukrainian negotiator and presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in a video posted online. He added that the Kremlin now understands this and “is already beginning to talk constructively”.
“I think that we will achieve some results literally in a matter of days,” he said.
“According to my personal expectations, in the coming days, this progress may grow into a joint position of both delegations, into documents for signing,” Slutsky said.
Separately, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Moscow was showing signs of willingness to engage in substantive negotiations about ending the conflict.
Negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv have held several rounds of talks since Putin sent in troops to the country on February 24. Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers also met in Turkey on Thursday.
