Russian and Ukrainian diplomats have arrived in Antalya.
The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine will meet in Turkey on Thursday (March 10th) in the first high-level talks between the two countries since Moscow invaded its neighbor, with Ankara hoping they could mark a turning point in heated conflict there.
Russia’s aggression has displaced more than 2 million people in what the United Nations calls the fastest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II.
NATO member Turkey had repeatedly offered to mediate between the parties and will now host their two top diplomats.
Kuleba urged Lavrov to approach the talks “in good faith, not from a propaganda perspective.”
“I will honestly say that my expectations from the talks are low,” Kuleba said in a video statement on Wednesday. “We are interested in a ceasefire, in the liberation of our territories, and the third point is the resolution of all humanitarian issues.”
Moscow, on the other hand, has said it is ready for talks with Ukraine, but that all its demands – including for Kiev to take a neutral position and give up its aspirations to join the NATO alliance – must be met to end its attack.