The two politicians sat opposite each other in a hotel room on Thursday morning. The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlt Avusoglu was also there.
Kuleba after conversation with Lavrov: No progress
The first meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the war did not bring any significant progress. It was also not possible to agree on humanitarian corridors for the city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea, said Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday after talks with his Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov in Antalya, Turkey. Lavrov accused the West of exacerbating the conflict by supplying arms to Ukraine. “We see how dangerous our Western colleagues, including the European Union, are now acting.”
The conversation in a hotel – the first since the Russian attack on the neighboring country two weeks ago – lasted only about an hour and a half. Until then, only negotiators from both sides had met at the lower level.
Kuleba then said that Lavrov was unable to arrange escape corridors himself. “He will discuss this with the relevant authorities in Russia,” said the Ukrainian minister. In addition, a 24-hour ceasefire was discussed “to solve the most urgent humanitarian problems.” Literally, Kuleba said: “We have not made any progress on this issue. Because it seems that these decisions are being made by others in Russia.”
Both Lavrov and Kuleba were in principle ready for further talks. “We are for any contacts. But contacts must bring added value,” said Lavrov. As a condition, Kuleba stated that “there are prospects for substantial discussions and a serious search for solutions”. According to Lavrov, Russian President Vladimir Putin also has nothing against meeting his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But “preparatory work” is required for this.
Lavrov claimed that Russia did not attack Ukraine. On the contrary, his country felt that its security was threatened. Kuleba said the conversation was easy and difficult at the same time. “Simple because Minister Lavrov essentially presented his traditional narratives about Ukraine. Difficult because I did my best to find at least a diplomatic solution to the humanitarian tragedy unfolding before our eyes on the battlefield in the besieged ones cities.”
Turkey sees Kuleba-Lavrov meeting as important start
Despite the lack of progress, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlt Cavusoglu expressed cautious optimism after meeting his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts. “Nobody expected that this meeting would solve all the problems, but a start had to be made,” Cavusoglu said after the talks between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Antalya, Turkey on Thursday. Cavusoglu was there as an intermediary. It was the first conversation between Kuleba and Lavrov since the war began two weeks ago.
The meeting was an important start, emphasized Cavusoglu. Now he hopes that the contacts will be continued so that trust can be created. There is no other possibility anyway. The meeting of the three ministers took place in a “difficult climate” but was civilized, said Cavusoglu. He again called for a permanent ceasefire and evacuation corridors for civilians in Ukraine. Turkey maintains good relations with Moscow and Kyiv. Cavusoglu emphasized that the country will continue to be available as a mediator in the future.
ANTALYA (dpa-AFX)
Image sources: xbrchx / Shutterstock.com