Second Round Of Peace Talks, Russia-Ukraine Agree On Humanitarian Corridor To Protect Civilians

Ukraine's second round of peace talks with Russia. (Source: Twitter/@BelarusMFA)

JAKARTA - Russia and Ukraine agreed on Thursday on the need for a humanitarian corridor to help protect civilians fleeing the eight-day Moscow invasion, the first real advance in talks, as the United States adds Western sanctions on more oligarchs.

Thousands of people are thought to have been killed or injured in the biggest attack on a European country since World War Two, creating 1 million refugees, hitting Russia's economy, and fears of wider conflict in the West unthinkable for decades.

Russian troops continue to besiege and attack Ukrainian cities, including Mariupol, a major port in the east that has been heavily bombarded, without water or electricity. Officials said they were unable to evacuate the injured.

After talks at an undisclosed location, Russia said 'substantial progress' had been made, while the Ukrainian side showed understanding about helping ordinary people, but not the results Kyiv had hoped for.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said a temporary halt to fighting in certain locations was also possible.

That is, not everywhere, but only in places where the humanitarian corridor itself will be, it will be possible to carry out a ceasefire during the evacuation, he said.

Evacuation of infants and children in the basement of a building in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/MVS.go.ua/Міністерство ав аїни)

They also saw firsthand the delivery of medicine and food to the places where the fiercest fighting took place. The negotiators will meet again next week, Belarusian news agency Belta quoted Podolyak as saying.

The West has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion with military support and by tightening the economic screws on the Kremlin and Russia. The effects so far have included queues outside banks, a plummeting ruble value, and an exodus of foreign companies.

In a sign of business jitters, Russia's second-largest oil producer Lukoil called for an immediate end to the conflict, saying it was concerned about the 'tragic events in Ukraine'.

On Thursday, the United States and Britain announced sanctions against more oligarchs, in a follow-up to the European Union's actions.

Among those sanctioned were Russian conglomerate Alisher Usmanov, founder of mining company Metalloinvest. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was also hit by US sanctions. Visa restrictions will be imposed on 19 Russian oligarchs, their family members, and associates, the White House said.

"Sanctions have had a profound impact," said US President Joe Biden.

Separately, although Kyiv and other major cities are still controlled by Ukraine, the United Nations says one million people have now been displaced, mainly seeking refuge in Poland and other neighbors to the west.

As shelling and rocket attacks continue, the government is seeking more military assistance, something some countries fear could provoke Russia and escalate the conflict.

"How can a partner who has not given Ukraine a fighter plane to sleep, considering the children sitting in the basement under the bombardment ..?" wrote foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter.

The United States has warned the crisis is a threat to the rules-based order.