Russia says to ‘radically’ reduce military activity near Kyiv, Chernihiv

Russia announced Tuesday it will significantly scale back military operations near Ukraine’s capital and a northern city, as the outlines of a possible deal to end the grinding war came into view at the latest round of talks.
A woman holds a child next to a destroyed bridge during evacuation from the Irpin town, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, outside of Kyiv, Ukraine March 28, 2022 | Reuters
Ukraine’s delegation at the conference, held in anbul, laid out a framework under which the country would declare itself neutral and its security would be guaranteed an array of other nations. Moscow’s public reaction was positive, and the negotiations are expected to resume Wednesday, five weeks into what has devolved into a bloody war of attrition, with thousands dead and almost 4 million Ukrainians fleeing the country.
Amid the talks, Russian Deputy Defense Miner Alexander Fomin said Moscow has decided to “fundamentally … cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv” to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.”
The announcement was met with scepticism from the US and others. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia cannot be trusted. Although the signals from the talks are “positive,” they “can’t silence explosions of Russian shells,” he said in a video address.
Zelenskyy said it was Ukrainian troops who forced Russia’s hand, adding that “we shouldn’t ease our guard” because the invading army still “has a great potential to continue attacks against our country.”