Ukraine and Russia will continue to hold peace talks on April 1, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said Wednesday, noting that they would take place in an online format after the latest round in Turkey, AzVision.az reports citing the Turkish media.
During the recent talks in Turkey, the Ukrainian side again proposed a meeting between the two presidents, Arakhamia added.
The Russian delegation replied that a coordinated draft agreement was a prerequisite to any meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine insists that such a meeting cannot take place in Russia or Belarus.
Arakhamia praised the presence of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich at the last round of peace talks in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Abramovich played a positive role, Arakhamia said according to Ukrainian media reports, offering an "unofficial communication channel" that allowed for some discussion on an informal level.
The oligarch strives for neutrality, Arakhamia explained. "Although we don't see him as a neutral party. But we can say that he is certainly more neutral than the official side of the negotiations."
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