Interfax news agency reported that a Russian delegation arrived in Belarus on Sunday for talks with Ukraine, marking the first negotiations since Russia began its invasion on February 24. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian delegation includes officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, as well as the office of President Vladimir Putin, and they are awaiting the arrival of their Ukrainian counterparts in Gomel, Belarus. Russian media quoted a Kremlin spokesperson saying that Russia is ready to begin discussions and Moscow is currently waiting for the Ukrainians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he is still willing to hold talks in alternate locations that do not show hostility toward Ukraine. Zelensky added, "Talks in Minsk could have taken place if Russia had not attacked Ukraine from Belarusian territory." In a video address on Sunday, Zelensky identified Warsaw, Bratislava, Istanbul, Budapest, or Baku as alternative meeting places.
In this context, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the "bravery" of Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, and its forces are approaching the capital, Kyiv, making significant gains along the country's coast. An Ukrainian official reported that street fighting broke out in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, on Sunday following a wave of attacks elsewhere, targeting airports and fuel facilities, which appears to represent a new phase of the invasion.
