Ukraine: Peace talks offer ‘hope of compromise’ as Russia suffers ‘heavy losses’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a meeting with foreign leaders
AFP via Getty Images
Bill McLoughlin16 March 2022

Ukraine peace talks have offered “hope of compromise”, Russia’s foreign minister has claimed.

Sergei Lavrov said a compromise over the conflict has been discussed between the two sides with a "business-like spirit" as the invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth week.

Mr Lavrov said Ukraine’s neutral status in relation to Nato had now been seriously considered after the latest round of negotiations.

He told RBC News: “The negotiations are not easy for obvious reasons. But nevertheless, there is some hope of reaching a compromise.”

He added: "There are concrete formulations that in my view are close to being agreed."

The MoD also said Ukrainian had inflicted “heavy losses” on enemy forces while president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian officials had taken a more realistic tone following the latest round of peace talks.

He said in a video: “The meetings continue, and, I am informed, the positions during the negotiations already sound more realistic. But time is still needed for the decisions to be in the interests of Ukraine.”

Oleksiy Arestovich, one of Zelensky’s top aides, also said the war will end in weeks and a peace deal will be struck when Russia’s forces run out of supplies.

On a trip to the Gulf, Boris Johnson admitted Ukraine will not join Nato in the near future - a key demand from Russia.

Mr Johnson said: “We have made clear to Putin, there’s no way Ukraine is going to join Nato any time soon.

“But the decision about the future of Ukraine has got to be for the Ukrainian people and for Volodymyr Zelensky as their elected leader, and we will back him.”

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