Russia-Ukraine talks underway in Belarus

Russian and Ukrainian delegations on Monday began their first talks since Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine last week, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported. The Ukrainian-Belarusian border in the Pripyat River region (Ukraine) and Gomel (Belarus) -- where the delegations are meeting. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said their goal for the talks was a ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian forces. According to the office of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian delegation includes the Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, the head of the parliament faction of the Servant of the People party, and a deputy foreign minister. The Russian delegation is led by former Minister of culture Vladimir Medinsky. Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei address the high-level delegations from Ukraine and Russia. The two sides arrived at the venue on the banks of the Pripyat River to attempt a negotiated settlement in the ongoing crisis.

Earlier, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky had appealed to the European Union to grant his country an immediate membership under a special procedure. He even asked the Russian soldiers to ‘save their lives and leave’. The UN has said 102 civilians, including seven children, have been killed in Ukraine. The UN refugee agency has said tens of thousands are fleeing the fighting, with most crossing into Poland as the total count reaches 400,000. Others are seeking shelter in Hungary, Romania, Moldova and Slovakia. Pope Francis has called for corridors for civilians to escape the fighting.