Russia holds an ultimatum to Ukraine under talks in Belarus!
The deadline for Russia to Ukrainian officials is 3 p.m. local time on Sunday (7 a.m. ET) to decide whether to hold talks in the Belarusian city of Gomel.
Vladimir Mekinsky, head of the Russian delegation and an aide to President Vladimir Putin, told Russia's state news agency Arsenesin that they would stay there until the allotted time and wait for a response.
"As soon as we are confirmed, we will immediately set out to meet our negotiators," Meginsky said. "We support peace."
Still, Ukrainian President Želensky said on Sunday he was willing to hold talks with Russia but rejected their offer to hold talks in Belarus.
Belarus is an ally of Russia and played a key role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say Russian troops, with the support of the Belarusian government, have invaded the Belarusian border. The Biden administration subsequently imposed sanctions on nine Belarusian defense companies that supported the invasion.
Speaking directly to Belarus on Sunday, Zelensky said "acts of aggression" from Belarusian territory meant it was impossible to hold talks in the country. Ukraine says it intercepted a cruise missile launched from Belarusian territory into Kiev.
The U.S. State Department said Thursday that Zelensky remained "the main target of Russian aggression," while Zelensky himself said, "The enemy has made me the number one target." ”
Medniski said: "If the talks are rejected, the Ukrainian side will bear the responsibility for all bloodshed." "But we will stay here until 15:00 and wait for a response from the Ukrainian side."
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Sunday he was "waiting" for Ukraine to come to Belarus for talks with Russia.
"We are waiting. Everyone was waiting at Gomel. Lukashenko told reporters after a constitutional referendum vote in Minsk on Sunday, belarusian state news agency reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Russian delegation had arrived in Belarus for nominal talks with Ukrainian representatives, according to the Russian news agency reported on Sunday! #乌总统: Can negotiate with Russia + location can not be in Belarus # # Focus on the situation in Russia and Ukraine ## Ukraine ## In Russia Chinese how to see the war between Russia and Ukraine #