From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Ukraine sees ceasefire on horizon as talks reportedly progress
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak says he thinks Russia will agree to a ceasefire in a number of days, amid reports of progress on an agreement after nearly three weeks of war.
Podolyak tells US network PBS that Russian negotiators are softening their positions as troops struggle to make progress.
Our position at the negotiations is quite specific – legally verified security guarantees; ceasefire; withdrawal of Russian troops. This is possible only with a direct dialogue between the heads of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Details are in an interview with the @NewsHour pic.twitter.com/TlPUl3XfGK
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 16, 2022
“We are confident because the Russians have used all of the resources they were planning to use in this war,” he says. “They don’t have the reserves, they don’t have the supply chain… Therefore we have much confidence that we will have a ceasefire in the coming days.”
According to the Financial Times, Russia and Ukraine are making progress on a 15-point plan that would see Russian troops withdraw and Ukraine agree to slash its military and accept neutrality. Ukraine would have to renounce plans to join NATO and refrain from agreeing to host foreign militaries or arms in exchange for protection from the West, the newspaper reported, based on three unnamed sources.
It also said Ukrainians remain skeptical of trusting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier said the sides were nearing an agreement.
“A neutral status is being seriously discussed in connection with security guarantees,” Lavrov said on Russian channel RBK TV. “There are concrete formulations that in my view are close to being agreed.”
Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, says the sides have been discussing a possible compromise idea for a future Ukraine with a smaller, non-aligned military.
Prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough were highly uncertain, however, given the gulf between Ukraine’s demand that the invading forces withdraw completely and Russia’s suspected aim of replacing Kyiv’s Westward-looking government with a pro-Moscow regime.
Podolyak earlier denied Russian claims Ukraine was open to adopting a model of neutrality comparable to Sweden or Austria. Podolyak said Ukraine needs powerful allies and “clearly defined security guarantees” to keep it safe.
AP contributed.
