Moscow-Kiev peace talks yield no breakthrough

KABUL (Pajhwok): The first round of Ukraine-Russia negotiations has yielded no major breakthrough, as fighting continues in the former Soviet republic.

The talks aimed at ending the war were held near the Belarus-Ukraine border on Monday as Russian troops continued attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv.

Al Jazeera quoted an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying the meeting with Ukrainian officials lasted about five hours.

The negotiators “found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen”, said Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian delegation.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said the parleys focused on a possible ceasefire. He also hinted at a second round being held “in the near future”.

He added: “The next meeting will take place in the coming days on the Polish-Belarusian border, there is an agreement to that effect.”

Also on Monday, Russian artillery struck residential districts of Kharkiv, killing at least 11 people, Ukrainian officials claimed.

PAN Monitor/mud