Russian, Ukrainian negotiating stances became more realistic — Ukrainian president

Baku, March 16, AZERTAC Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday the stances taken by Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have become more realistic, according to TASS. "The meetings continue. I am receiving reports that negotiating stances sound more realistic already," he said in a video address. The adviser to Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff, Mikhail Podolyak, said the Russian and Ukrainian delegations will continue talks on Wednesday. He said the delegations are dealing with fundamental differences but compromise is possible. The first round of negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine was held in the Gomel Region of Belarus on February 28, and the meeting lasted five hours. The second round took place in Belovezhskaya Pushcha on March 3, the third one in the Brest Region on March 7. On March 10, on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in the Turkish city of Antalya, a meeting was held between Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers Sergey Lavrov and Dmitry Kuleba. Negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine resumed on Monday via a video link and continued on Tuesday.