Ukraine-Russia 2nd Talks Begin... Russia "Ready for Dialogue but Military Operations Continue"

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] As Russia's invasion targeting major Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians continues, the second round of talks between the two delegations began on the 3rd (local time). Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that regardless of negotiations for a ceasefire, Russian military operations to neutralize Ukrainian military facilities will continue.

According to The Guardian and others, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, announced on Twitter that the talks had commenced. The agenda mentioned by the Ukrainian delegation includes an immediate cessation of attacks, a ceasefire, and humanitarian safe corridors for civilian evacuation.

The location of the second round of talks is the Belavezhskaya Pushcha forest in Brest Region, Belarus, where the Soviet Union was dissolved and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) founding agreement was signed. The talks were initially scheduled for the previous night but were postponed by a day due to the late arrival of the Ukrainian delegation for safety reasons.

The two sides negotiated for five hours during the first round of talks but failed to produce any significant results. Immediately after the talks, the Russian delegation only confirmed that some agenda items might be agreed upon.

Currently, the Ukrainian delegation insists that Russia must stop bombing Ukrainian cities before any progress in negotiations can be made. However, the Russian side reaffirmed that military operations will continue regardless of negotiations. According to AP News and others, Minister Lavrov stated at a live press conference broadcast on Russian state television, "We are ready to talk (with Ukraine)," but added, "However, military operations will continue because we cannot leave infrastructure in Ukraine that threatens Russia's security as it is."

However, contrary to Russia's claim that military infrastructure is the target of military operations, civilian casualties and damage to civilian facilities are mounting. Major foreign media reported that Mariupol, a strategic stronghold on the Sea of Azov in Ukraine, has been surrounded by Russian forces. Earlier, Russian forces captured the southern stronghold of Kherson.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.