Ukrainian, Russian Negotiators Say Significant ‘Progress’ Made in Ceasefire Talks

A Ukrainian official negotiating with the Russians Sunday said he expects to achieve results within a matter of days.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, claims significant progress has been in talks with Russia negotiatiors to end the war in Ukraine.

“At the negotiations, the [Russians] not putting ultimatums, but carefully listens to our proposals.,” wrote Podolyak in post to his Twitter account. He added Ukraine will not back down from any of their positions. “Our demands are – the end of the war and the withdrawal of RF troops.  I see the understanding and there is a dialogue.” The post includes video but Podolyak speaks Ukrainian.

“I think that we will achieve some results literally in a matter of days,” he said in the video, according to a report in “The Epoch Times”.

A Russian online publication attributed similar good sentiments about negotiations to one of that country’s diplomats.

“Leonid Slutsky, a member of the Russian delegation for the Ukraine-Russia talks said ‘significant progress’ has been made in negotiations,” according to a report from Opoy. The Russian negotiator noted significant progress from the positions held by Ukraine and Russia since negotiations began.

“I expect the progress may grow into a unified position of both delegations, and into a document for signing,” Slutsky said. He added that a negotiated cease-fire could save many lives and reduce tensions between the countries.

U.S. Deputy Secretary Of State Wendy Sherman touched on negotiations when she appeared on Fox News Sunday. She explained the U.S. has provided Ukraine with $1.2 billion in defensive weapons to protect against the Russian invasion. The diplomat opined that the stiffer Ukraine resistance and punishing economic sanctions were changing the calculus Putin uses to evaluate the war.

“We are seeing some signs of willingness to have real, serious negotiations but I have to say so far it appears Vladimir Putin is intent on destroying Ukraine,” Sherman said.