Russia-Ukraine War: Moscow Agrees To Reduce Military Activity In Kyiv. Putin-Zelenskyy Meet Possible

During the meeting, Kyiv negotiators called for an 'international' accord to guarantee Ukrainian security, news agency AFP reported.

(File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: The first face-to-face talks between Russia and Ukraine in two weeks which began earlier in the day in Turkey has ended with Moscow agreeing to 'radically' reduce military activity near the capital Kyiv and Chernigiv, news agency AFP reported.

After the meeting, Russian negotiators stated that 'meaningful' talks were held with Ukraine. They also said that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky could be possible after the Istanbul talks.

#BREAKING Ukraine negotiator says Putin, Zelensky meeting possible after Istanbul talks pic.twitter.com/g8S5ozIwsE

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 29, 2022

An adviser to the Ukrainian president said the meeting in Istanbul was focused on securing a cease-fire and guarantees for Ukraine's security issues that have been the focus of previous unsuccessful negotiations.

During the meeting, Kyiv negotiators called for an 'international' accord to guarantee Ukrainian security, AFP stated.

The previous rounds of talks between Moscow and Kyiv failed to make progress on ending the war - now in its 34th day - that has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes including almost 4 million from their country.

Russia has been demanding that Ukraine must drop any hope of joining the western NATO alliance, which Moscow sees as a threat.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also indicated over the weekend he was open to that, saying Ukraine was ready to declare its neutrality, but he has stressed that the country needs security guarantees of its own as part of any deal.

Meanwhile, news agency Reuters stated that the meeting between officials of the two nations ended with a 'cold welcome' and without a handshake between the two delegations.

Russia has destroyed over 60 religious buildings across the country in just over a month of war, with most of the damage concentrated near Kyiv and in the east, Ukraine's military said in a post earlier in the day.