Ukraine insists on ‘territorial integrity’ before Russia talks

Ukraine and Russia were preparing on Monday for the first face-to-face peace talks in more than two weeks, with Kyiv insisting it would make no concessions on ceding territory despite Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier suggesting Ukraine was prepared to discuss adopting a neutral status as part of a peace deal with Russia.   

“Our priorities in the negotiations are known. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are beyond doubt. Effective security guarantees for our state are mandatory,” Zelenskyy said.   

Russia and Ukraine said their delegations would arrive in Turkey on Monday, with the talks due to start on Tuesday.   
In an interview with Russian journalists at the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned some form of “compromise” involving Donbas, although he did not suggest this might involve ceding the territory.   
When the sides last met in person, Ukraine accused Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of ignoring pleas to discuss a ceasefire, while Lavrov said a halt to fighting was not even on the agenda. 

 
Since then, they have held talks via video link and publicly discussed the formula of Ukraine accepting a formal neutral status. But neither side has budged over Russia’s territorial demands, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and eastern territories known as the Donbas, which Moscow demands Kyiv cede to separatists.   
Ukrainian officials have also played down the chances of a major breakthrough at the talks. Russia’s military signalled last week it was shifting focus to concentrate on expanding territory held by separatists in eastern Ukraine.   
KHARKIV March 28 Reuters