INTERNATIONAL: The first round of peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials has happened in the Belarusian city of Gomel on Monday,February 28, four days after Russia has invaded Ukraine, the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two.
The talks between Russia and Ukraine came as Russia faced deepening economic isolation following Western sanctions. And also, after Russian forces seized two small cities in southeastern Ukraine and the area around a nuclear power plant.
The talks held on the Belarus border with strong Russian ally Belarus, which has become a launch pad for the invading Russian troops.
So far, no tangible result between the Kyiv-Moscow negotiations that happened on Monday, the delegations of the two parties will return to their capitals for consultations.
Delegates found topics that they could agree upon next time on the Belarus- Poland border after consultations. The second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place in two days.
Before the meeting, Ukraine's President Zelensky has urged Russian troops to lay down their weapons and called for immediate EU membership.
A rare emergency session of the UN General Assembly has begun with a demand from the secretary-general for an immediate ceasefire.
Talks began with the aim of an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces, the Ukrainian president's office has said, after a Russian advance that has gone more slowly than some expected.
The Western-led response to the invasion has been emphatic, with sanctions that effectively cut off Moscow's major financial institutions from Western markets. Russia's rouble currency has plunged 30 percent against the dollar on Monday. Countries also stepped up weapons supplies to Ukraine.
Civilian death toll now stands at 352 people, including 14 children, Ukraine’s health ministry says.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich helps Ukraine negotiate for peace.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who owns England’s Chelsea Football Club, has accepted a Ukrainian request to help negotiate an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, his spokeswoman says.
PHOTO: DELEGATION ENTERING ROOM/DELEGATION TAKING SEATS FOR MEETING/BELARUSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VLADIMIR MAKEI SPEAKING TO DELEGATES
