A possible ceasefire could be reached between Russia and Ukraine on 'critical' issues: Turkey

Photo by Sima Ghaffarzadeh from Pexels

On March 19, Turkish officials said that talks between Russia and Ukraine were nearing an agreement on "critical" issues, suggesting a ceasefire is now feasible, provided both sides don't backtrack on their progress.

Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba have met in Antalya, a resort town in the Turkish Mediterranean, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also attended.

An interview published on Sunday by the Turkish daily Hurriyet quoted him as saying there had been "a rapprochement of positions between both sides on important issues."

“We can say we are hopeful for a ceasefire if the sides do not take a step back from the current positions,” he said. “There are open channels between the leaders. This is now known.”

“Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to make an assessment that one side wants more,” Cavusoglu said. “Ultimately, what matters is that they come together. It happens in Turkey, it happens elsewhere. It is important for us that the two parties come together.”

Despite its border with Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, NATO member Turkey has pushed for both sides to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine and continues diplomatic efforts to deescalate the conflict.

As well as offering humanitarian aid to Kyiv and supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Liechtenstein has opposed multiple Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the invasion.

21 March 2022