Promising developments are coming from the first face-to-face negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. Russia has decided to de-escalate.
Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said, “(The talks on ) the neutrality and non-nuclear status of Ukraine have moved into a practical field…(Therefore) A decision has been made to radically, by several times reduce the military activity in the areas of Kyiv and Chernigiv.”
On the other hand, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said that conditions are now mature for a direct meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
Further, he said, “An international mechanism of security guarantees where guarantor countries will act in a similar way to NATO’s article number five –and even more firmly.”
The news has given a lift to the European markets. Oil prices have fallen by five percent, and the Ruble has gone up by ten percent against the dollar. However, the US seems to be skeptical about troop withdrawal by Russia, calling it could constitute a redeployment. Following the latest development in Istanbul, American President Joe Biden said he would discuss it with his European counterparts (Britain, France, Germany, and Italy at 1315 GMT.
Reference: Russia will “radically” reduce its military – MSN News Via AFP