First Talks On Ceasefire Between Russia And Ukraine In Belarus End, Results Await

The first talks on a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in Gomel, Belarus on Monday 28 February 2022. (Photo: Ministry of foreign affairs of Belarus)

JAKARTA - The war between Russia and Ukraine that has lasted for five days is starting to see a bright spot towards peace. On Monday, February 28, 2022, came a call from a Ukrainian security official, who asked Russian troops to withdraw from Ukrainian territory as the two enemies began negotiations on a ceasefire.

But the Kremlin was quoted as saying by AFP that it would not announce the official position of the Russian troops. According to the spokesman for the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, the determination of the position of Russian troops in Ukraine will only be taken based on the results of negotiations.

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were bridged by the President of Belarus, Alekasander Lukashenko, who succeeded in persuading Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president was persuaded to accept the ceasefire proposal required by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Negotiations on a planned ceasefire were held in Gomel, near the Chernobyl exclusion zone, not far from the Ukrainian and Belarusian borders on Monday, February 28.

Ukraine had previously been unwilling to negotiate in Belarus, preferring Poland. But Lukashenko was able to convince Zelensky to negotiate in Belarus. There has been no official statement from the Russian side about the ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine which ended on Monday evening.

According to a CBS News report, Ukraine's main demand in the talks is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. Monday evening, residents in Kyiv have been allowed to go outside and shelter bunkers.

It is the first time that civilians in the Ukraine capital have been allowed to move outside their homes. Since Saturday, February 26, residents are required to stay at home and are subject to a curfew.