埼玉英語会英検１級・準１級　コミュのProspect of a settlement remains dim

Talks between Russia and Ukraine took place today in Turkey,
but the two countries failed to agree on a ceasefire.

For one and a half hours, Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, and his Russian counterpart,
Sergei Lavrov, sat facing each in a lavish hotel in Antalya.

Kuleba asked for a 24-hour ceasefire, and a humanitarian corridor out of
Mariupol. But he said Lavrov did not seem empowered to make any commitments.

For his part, Lavrov said Russia was ready to strike a deal. But, he said,
Ukraine had first to be disarmed and – in his words "denazified" - and it should
give up its hopes of joining the EU and Nato.

Incredibly, Lavrov also defended the deadly bombing of the maternity hospital
in Mariupol, claiming it was a base for Ukrainian forces and that there were
no women, children or medical professionals there.

Hours later, Russia’s defence ministry denied any responsibility for the attack.

For now, the prospects of a negotiated settlement remain dim.

Kuleba said he was willing to meet again, but Lavrov accused Ukraine of
wanting meetings for the sake of meetings.