Ukraine on Sunday agreed to hold talks with Russia at the Ukraine-Belarus border near the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
The office of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky made the announcement on the fourth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky's office in a statement said Russian and Ukrainian diplomats would meet without preconditions at an unspecified location on the Belarusian border – but a time for the meeting has not been disclosed.
"The politicians agreed that the Ukrainian delegation would meet the Russian one without preconditions at the Ukraine-Belarus border, near the Pripyat River," the statement said.
Initially, Ukrainian officials had rejected the plan, saying any talks should take place elsewhere than Belarus – Russia’s ally and neighbor where there is a large number of Russian troops stationed.
But Kyiv said the President of Belarus assured Zelensky that "all planes, helicopters, and missiles stationed on Belarus territory will remain on the ground during the travel, negotiations, and return of the Ukrainian delegation".
The decision came amid reports that President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces to remain on high alert in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers.
The office of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky made the announcement on the fourth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky's office in a statement said Russian and Ukrainian diplomats would meet without preconditions at an unspecified location on the Belarusian border – but a time for the meeting has not been disclosed.
"The politicians agreed that the Ukrainian delegation would meet the Russian one without preconditions at the Ukraine-Belarus border, near the Pripyat River," the statement said.
Initially, Ukrainian officials had rejected the plan, saying any talks should take place elsewhere than Belarus – Russia’s ally and neighbor where there is a large number of Russian troops stationed.
But Kyiv said the President of Belarus assured Zelensky that "all planes, helicopters, and missiles stationed on Belarus territory will remain on the ground during the travel, negotiations, and return of the Ukrainian delegation".
The decision came amid reports that President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces to remain on high alert in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers.
