A first meeting between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators must be held at the border with Belarus, Monday, February 28 in the morning, in a climate of extreme distrust.
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Shot in the water or start of a process that could lead to a ceasefire, or even a political agreement? A first meeting between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators had to start on Monday 28 February at the border between Belarus and Ukraine, in a climate of extreme distrust and with limited hopes. The place of these talks, remained secret for security reasons, bears the name of the code of “Priest’s cabin”, “said Belarusse Belta Agency on Monday morning.
On Sunday night, this face-to-face encountered serious organizational difficulties. Volodymyr Zelensky refused the initial proposal of a meeting in Gomel, in Belarusian territory, “from which the missiles and Russian tanks are parties”. After proposing a series of foreign cities, the Ukrainian president accepted a compromise after a discussion with his Bielorusian counterpart Alexander Loukachenko – a meeting on the border, along the Prypiat River. These difficulties allowed Moscow to ensure, repeatedly, that Kiev did not want to negotiate.
m. Loukachenko, Ally of Moscow, would have guaranteed his counterpart that the military means deployed in Belarus would remain inactive during the process, but the promise did not seem to constitute a sufficient guarantee for the security of the Ukrainian delegation. The direct road between Kiev and Belarus is always the theater of fighting. The Ukrainian delegation, composed of four or five representatives, civilians and military, is therefore passed by Poland, only arriving on zone until Monday morning. Kiev also always says fear that Belarus is not content with a simple logistical support in Moscow and eventually send his troops in support.
A “Neutral Status” for Ukraine
Russian side, the delegation was taken away by Vladimir Medinski who, if it is certainly a Kremlin advisor, constitutes an amazing choice: former Minister of Culture with ultranational views, Mr. Medinski has a low political credit in Russia and has no international experience.
On the bottom, the positions of the two camps appear so far away. The Russian part blew the hot and the cold but sticks for the moment to a maximalist position: the capitulation before any other discussion. “We are ready to negotiate at any time, as soon as the Ukrainian armed forces will respond to the call of our president and submit arms,” said Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister.
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