Hours after the first meeting between delegations from Russia and Ukraine in three years, a Russian drone attack on a bus has left nine civilians dead and seven injured in the Sumy region.
Volodymyr Zelensky reported that among the deceased is a family consisting of a father, a mother, and their daughter. "It was a deliberate murder of civilians. [..] We need to pressure Russia to stop the killings," said the Ukrainian president.
The attack occurred shortly after the meeting in which Kiev and Moscow agreed on an exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side, but it ended without a ceasefire, which was "the priority" for Ukraine and its allies.
The Kremlin stated on Saturday that further negotiations would only be possible once the prisoner exchange had taken place. The presidential spokesperson mentioned that Russia would provide the Ukrainian side with a list of conditions for a ceasefire, and certain agreements could make a meeting between Putin and Zelensky possible, without specifying the conditions.
Russia to prepare list of demands for ceasefire in Ukraine
The Kremlin announced on Saturday that it would provide the Ukrainian side with a list of conditions for a ceasefire, and certain agreements could enable a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
"The Russian side will prepare this list and deliver it to the Ukrainian side. Perhaps it should not be announced exactly what it will include, as the negotiations are ongoing and should be behind closed doors," responded Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to a TASS journalist's question.
Peskov also addressed the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky during a press conference. "Such a meeting, as a result of the work of the delegations of both parties after reaching certain agreements, would be possible. We consider it possible," he commented.
Russia announces conquest of another settlement in Donetsk
Russian troops have captured the settlement of Oleksandropil in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, as reported on Saturday by the Russian Ministry of Defense, cited by the state news agency TASS.
Erdogan awaits definitive outcome of peace talks
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated that he hoped for a definitive outcome from the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to a transcript of his statements to journalists on his return flight from Albania overnight, as reported by Reuters.
Erdogan mentioned that Turkey was determined to continue its role in mediation and added that dialogue and negotiations must continue.
Russia conditions new negotiations on agreed prisoner exchange
The Kremlin declared on Saturday that further discussions with Ukraine would only be possible once the prisoner exchange announced on Friday by both parties in Istanbul had taken place.
"What the delegations agreed on yesterday still needs to be done. This, of course, primarily involves proceeding with the exchange of prisoners, 1,000 for 1,000," emphasized the Russian presidential spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, following Friday's dialogue.
Zelensky reveals family among the dead in Sumy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lamented the new Russian attack that killed nine people in the Sumy region and revealed that among them was a family: a mother, father, and daughter. He also increased the number of hospitalized injured to seven.
Kremlin: Putin-Zelensky meeting possible, but only with certain agreements
The Kremlin spokesperson stated on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but only if certain agreements were reached between both countries.
Dmitry Peskov did not specify which agreements would be necessary for such a meeting to take place. The two leaders have not met since December 2019.