While more was discussed today at the second meeting in Belarus of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, the first fruit of the meetings was an agreement to have humanitarian corridors established. Supplies, food, medical help and such could be brought into conflicted zones, and those who wish to leave would be secured an exit.
An aide to Ukraine’s President Zelensky, Mikhaylo Podolyak, reported after the conference, in Russian, that they had not achieved all they had hoped, but the statement he read described the corridors, and included the possibility of ceasefires during the time the corridors were being employed. He indicated that the next round would be very soon, and that ceasefires would be further dealt with then.
Medinsky reported that, beyond the corridors, military and future political situations were discussed, and that both sides had made their positions clear. He characterized the willingness of both Ministries of Defense to collaborate on the corridors as “substantial progress.”
Another delegation member, Leonid Slutsky, the head of the Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee, added that there would be further developments, as important matters that would involve both country’s legislatures are now on the agenda. He did not describe those matters further, except to say that they would require confirmation at the highest level, and they would be the subject on that level over the immediate days ahead.