– Russia ceases fire and withdraws
– Ukrainian "neutrality" without Nato
– Kyiv keeps its army but can't host foreign bases
– Russian gets legal status in Ukraine
@ArashMassoudi This is definitely progress. But it's a very difficult process.
It's very hard to see how they could ever agree on Crimea and Donbas – Ukraine can't give up the territory.
And Kyiv worries Russia could just be playing for time to replenish its army and start a new offensive.
More details on Ukraine’s peace talks with Russia, including Israel’s involvement.
“He needs to be able to sell it. Putin can say we wanted to stop Ukraine joining Nato and putting foreign bases in its territory. If they do that he can say, ‘I got it.’” on.ft.com/3u0WJ7N
Ukraine is sceptical Putin’s committed to peace.
“There’s a likelihood this is trickery and illusion. They lie about everything — Crimea, the build-up, the ‘hysteria’ over the invasion. We need to put pressure on them until they have no other choice.”
Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium, which hosted the World Cup final in 2018, is packed out for a pro-war rally on the anniversary of Russia’s Crimea annexation.
Lots of reports of state employees being bussed in. They’re watching a video with Ukrainian flags being thrown to the ground
“They packed us into a bus and drove us here,” one woman tells @SotaVision
Polina Gagarina, once a Russian Eurovision contestant, absolutely butchering “Cuckoo” by the brilliant Soviet 80s rock band Kino. Nobody must have told her they were known for their *anti-war* songs
Zelensky says Ukraine's talks with Russia are starting to “sound more realistic.”
“However, time is still needed for the decisions to be in Ukraine’s interests. Our heroes, our defenders give us this time defending Ukraine everywhere.”
A woman burst onto Russia’s main live evening newscast today with a sign that says:
“Stop the war
Don’t believe propaganda
They’re lying to you”
And chanting: “Stop the war! No to war!”
(Does anyone know who this woman is?)
The anti-war protester who crashed the news broadcast is Marina Ovsyannikova, an editor at Channel One, says @pchikov, whose legal defense foundation is going to defend her against charges of “discrediting the Russian armed forces.” She’s already at the police station.
After Russian forces kidnapped the mayor of Melitopol in southern Ukraine, local lawmaker Galina Dalinichenko says "a committee of the people's chosen ones" will be in charge.
She urges locals to "adjust to the new reality" and says protests are "extremist," a Russian buzzword.
Video via local media here. Ukraine says its forces are trying to rescue the captured mayor, Ivan Fyodorov, who they claim is being tortured in captivity.
Locals in Melitopol, a southern Ukrainian town captured by Russia, protest against the reported kidnapping of their mayor. Video via Zelensky’s office
Zelensky on the kidnapped mayor, Ivan Fyodorov:
“I am grateful to every Melitopol resident for this resistance. From the very morning in the forever Ukrainian city of Melitopol, people gathered to protest against Russian troops, against attempts to bring the city to its knees.”
Zelensky: “we are constantly talking with international partners about this situation with our mayor. The demand is simple – to release him from captivity immediately. We appeal to all world leaders who speak to Moscow – France, Germany, Israel, and others.”
This is a response to Facebook's decision to allow some calls for violence against Russia.
"In this specific context, 'Russian soldiers' is being used as a proxy for the Russian military. The Hate Speech policy continues to prohibit attacks on Russians."