# Russia promises to scale back Ukraine war but West sceptical Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-03-29 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Russia pledges to reduce military operations around Kyiv Meta Description: Read about the latest developments as Russia and Ukraine take steps towards negotiating peace in Istanbul palace talks amid the ongoing conflict. URL: https://financedigest.com/russia-promises-to-scale-back-ukraine-war-but-west-scepticalhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-03-29t134453z1lynxnpei2s0pzrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-mykolaiv-1736815922164-compressed.jpg) By Jonathan Spicer and Gleb Garanich ISTANBUL/KYIV OUTSKIRTS/MARIUPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russia promised on Tuesday to scale down military operations around Ukraine’s capital and north, while Kyiv proposed adopting neutral status, in confidence-building steps that were the first signs of progress towards negotiating peace. Their talks took place in an Istanbul palace more than a month into the largest attack on a European nation since World War Two. [Russia’s invasion has been halted](https://www.financedigest.com/kfc-franchisees-in-russia-ask-govt-to-halt-sale-of-stores-to-local-operator-ria.html "KFC franchisees in Russia ask govt to halt sale of stores to local operator – RIA") on most fronts by stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces who have recaptured territory even as civilians are trapped in besieged cities. Thousands of people have been killed or injured, nearly four million have fled Ukraine, and [Russia’s economy has been pummelled by sanctions](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-unleashes-rockets-after-mariupol-ceasefire-eu-eyes-oil-sanctions.html "Russia unleashes rockets after Mariupol ceasefire, EU eyes oil sanctions"). In order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achieving the ultimate goal of agreeing and signing (an) agreement, a decision was made to radically, by a large margin, reduce military activity in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions,” [Russian Deputy Defence Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/permitted-share-of-chinas-yuan-in-russian-wealth-fund-doubled-to-60-finance-minister.html "Permitted share of China’s yuan in Russian wealth fund doubled to 60% -Finance Minister") Alexander Fomin told reporters. He made no mention of other areas that have seen heavy fighting, including around Mariupol in the southeast, Sumy and Kharkiv in the east and Kherson and Mykolaiv in the south. Some analysts noted that [Russia’s promise](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-promises-to-scale-down-operations-in-northern-ukraine.html "Russia promises to scale down operations in northern Ukraine") to reduce fighting mostly covered areas where it has been losing ground. “Does ‘we’ll drastically reduce military operations around Kyiv’ = ‘we’re getting our ass kicked, transitioned to a hasty defense?'” tweeted Mark Hertling, a retired U.S. lieutenant general and former commander of U.S. forces in Europe. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also struck a sceptical note, [saying further major Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/citigroup-says-will-close-russian-consumer-commercial-business.html "Citigroup says will close Russian consumer, commercial business") offensives elsewhere in Ukraine should be expected. “We believe any movement of Russian forces from around Kyiv is a redeployment, not a withdrawal… They are shifting gears and probably because they failed with their initial offensive,” the official said. PROPOSALS Ukrainian negotiators said that under their proposals, Kyiv would [agree not to join alliances](https://www.financedigest.com/nissan-and-renault-agree-to-overhaul-alliance-this-time-as-equals.html "Nissan and Renault agree to overhaul alliance, this time as equals") or host bases of foreign troops, but would have security guaranteed in terms similar to “Article 5”, the collective defence clause of the transatlantic NATO military alliance. They named Israel and NATO members Canada, Poland and Turkey as countries that may give such guarantees. Russia, the United States, Britain, [Germany and Italy](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-england-drawn-with-italy-and-germany-in-nations-league.html "Soccer-England drawn with Italy and Germany in Nations League") could also be involved. The proposals, which would require a referendum in Ukraine, mentioned a 15-year consultation period on the status of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. The fate of the southeastern Donbas region, which [Russia demands Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war") cede to separatists, would be discussed by the Ukrainian and Russian leaders. Kyiv’s proposals also included one that Moscow would not oppose Ukraine [joining the European](https://www.financedigest.com/more-banks-join-european-instant-payments-pilot-from-end-2023.html "More banks join European instant payments pilot from end 2023") Union, Russia’s lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said. Russia has previously opposed Ukrainian [membership of the EU and especially of NATO](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-steps-in-finnish-swedish-path-to-nato-membership.html "Factbox-Steps in Finnish, Swedish path to NATO membership"). Medinsky said Russia’s delegation would study and present the proposals to President Vladimir Putin. To prepare a peace agreement, Medinsky later told the TASS news agency, “we still have a long way to go”. The Ukrainian negotiators called for a [meeting between Putin and President](https://www.financedigest.com/statement-by-imf-first-deputy-managing-director-david-lipton-on-meeting-with-egypts-president.html "Statement by IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton on Meeting with Egypt’s President") Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Medinsky said that could take place when [foreign ministers](https://www.financedigest.com/not-business-as-usual-for-g20-foreign-ministers-meeting-in-bali.html "Not ‘business as usual’ for G20 foreign ministers meeting in Bali") were ready to initial an agreement. U.S. [President Joe Biden spoke by phone about Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/south-korea-has-not-supplied-lethal-weapons-to-ukraine-president-says.html "South Korea has not supplied lethal weapons to Ukraine, president says") with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said in a statement. They agreed there could be no relaxation of [western resolve until the horror inflicted on Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russian-gold-removed-from-some-western-funds-after-ukraine.html "Analysis-Russian gold removed from some Western funds after Ukraine") has ended,” it said. A source familiar with the situation told Reuters the allies discussed more financial [aid of up to $500 million for Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/g7-offers-9-5-billion-new-aid-for-ukraine-ready-with-more.html "G7 offers .5 billion new aid for Ukraine, ready with more"). SCAVENGING In Mariupol, besieged for [weeks by Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/ukrainian-volunteers-recount-three-weeks-in-russian-captivity-allege-beatings.html "Ukrainian volunteers recount three weeks in Russian captivity, allege beatings") forces, nearly 5,000 people have been killed, according to figures from the mayor which cannot be verified. In parts now held by Russian troops, the few visible residents appeared ghostlike among charred apartment blocks. One little girl played with a stick in ruins as explosions crackled in the distance. Two youths scavenged through rubble. “We are eight people. We have two buckets of potatoes, one bucket of onions,” said Irina, an engineer, in her apartment where windows had been blasted out. Her group boiled soup on a makeshift stove in the stairwell. Elsewhere, however, Ukrainian forces have made advances, recapturing territory from Russian troops on the outskirts of Kyiv, in the northeast, and in the south. One recaptured area on a road [towards the village of Rusaniv was littered with burnt-out tanks and bits of Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-rouble-firms-towards-60-vs-dollar-stocks-up.html "Russian rouble firms towards 60 vs dollar, stocks up") uniforms. Surrounding houses were destroyed. A Ukrainian in uniform was digging a pit to bury charred remains of a [Russian soldier](https://www.financedigest.com/some-wounded-russian-soldiers-find-compensation-elusive-despite-putins-pledge-sources.html "Some wounded Russian soldiers find compensation elusive, despite Putin’s pledge – sources"). In the southern city of Mykolaiv, a missile blasted a hole through the main administrative building. Authorities said at least 12 people were killed and 33 injured. The Moscow-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine may consider joining Russia once it controls all of Ukraine’s Donetsk region, its leader [Denis Pushilin was quoted as saying](https://www.financedigest.com/loreal-denies-report-saying-it-suspended-twitter-ad-spending.html "L’Oréal denies report saying it suspended Twitter ad spending") on Tuesday. Kyiv has said any such move would have no legal basis. [Russia calls its assault a “special operation”](https://www.financedigest.com/mcdonalds-to-sell-russia-restaurants-to-local-operator-rebrand.html "McDonald’s to sell Russia restaurants to local operator, rebrand") to disarm and “denazify” Ukraine. The [West says](https://www.financedigest.com/putin-says-peace-talks-with-ukraine-are-at-dead-end-goads-the-west.html "Putin says peace talks with Ukraine are at dead end, goads the West") it launched an unprovoked invasion. Several European Union (EU) countries including Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland on Tuesday expelled dozens of Russian diplomats, some for alleged spying, in what the Irish [prime minister](https://www.financedigest.com/economist-odor-picked-as-slovakias-caretaker-prime-minister.html "Economist Odor picked as Slovakia’s caretaker prime minister") said was a coordinated move. Russia vowed retaliation. (Reporting by Gleb Garaninch in the KYIV OUTSKIRTS, a Reuters journalist in MARIUPOL, Jonathan Spicer in ISTANBUL, Pavel Polityuk in LVIV, Steve Holland in Washington and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and Gareth Jones; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Andrew Cawthorne) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---