Russia and Ukraine looking for compromise in peace talks

New talk of compromise from both Moscow and Kyiv on a status for Ukraine outside of NATO lifted hope on Wednesday for a potential breakthrough after three weeks of war.   

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said negotiations were becoming “more realistic”, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there was “some hope for compromise”.   

The Kremlin said the sides were discussing status for Ukraine similar to that of Austria or Sweden, both members of the European Union that are outside the NATO military alliance. Ukraine’s chief negotiator said it would give Kyiv binding international security guarantees to prevent future attacks.   

On Tuesday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine could accept international security guarantees that stopped short of its longstanding aim to join NATO, seen as a major shift.   

Keeping Ukraine out of the Western military alliance was one of Russia’s main demands.   

The signs of compromise sent relief through global financial markets. Shares in Germany - Russia’s biggest energy market - were up 3.4%.   

Ukrainian officials had expressed hope this week that the war could end sooner than expected. Talks were due to resume on Wednesday by video link for a third straight day, the first time they have lasted more than a single day.
KYIV/LVIV, Ukraine, 
March 16 (Reuters) -