Medynskyi again complains that Ukraine is blocking the negotiations

Sunday, 22 May 2022, 21:05

DENIS KARLOVSKY — SUNDAY, 22 MAY, 2022, 21: 05

VOLODYMYR MEDYNSKYI AT THE MILITARY PARADE ON MAY 9, 2022 IN THE KREMLIN. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

The head of the Russian negotiating group, Vladimir Medynskyi, again complains that Ukraine has suspended the negotiation process, and Russia, they say, is ready to work on the documents.

Source: Medynskyi for the Belarusian TV channel "Belarusian National Television"

Medynskyi's Quote: "We, for our part, are ready to continue the dialogue. But I would like to emphasise once again: that the ball for continuing the peace talks is on the Ukrainian side. Freezing negotiations is entirely an initiative of Ukraine."

Details: Medynskyi says that the Russian negotiating group allegedly sent written responses to the draft agreement that was proposed by Ukraine on 29 March in Istanbul.

According to him, negotiations allegedly stopped after the transfer of documents to representatives of Ukraine.

The Russian official once again said that a meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia can take place, but for this, you need to have "documents of a high degree of readiness."

Background:

On 21 May, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will definitely happen, but it is not yet known in what format and when. However, due to the behaviour of the Russian occupation forces, none of the possible guarantors of Ukraine's Security wants to sign an international agreement with the participation of Russia.
On 20 May a member of the Russian negotiation group, Leonid Slutskyi, hinted that Ukraine should give a signal about resuming negotiations.
Member of the Ukrainian negotiation group Mykhailo Podoliak firmly insisted that it was not necessary to offer Ukraine a cease-fire without withdrawing Russian troops to the positions that existed on February 23. He also explained that negotiating with the Russians doesn't make sense.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation repeated Medynskyi's words that Ukraine hasn’t responded to their written proposals for a peace agreement and blocks negotiations.
On 13 May, Turkish presidential adviser Ibrahim Kalin said that The Kremlin is supposedly ready to sit down at the negotiating table with Ukraine, mediated by Western partners to sign some kind of peace agreement.