Talks between representatives from Russia and Ukraine have begun near the Belarusian border as the war between Moscow and Kyiv entered the fifth day, with Russian forces capturing two Ukrainian cities.
Earlier, the Ukrainian president’s office had stated that the goal of the talks was to achieve an immediate ceasefire and encourage the withdrawal of Russian forces from the country. The meeting, which began just before 6 a.m. ET on Feb. 28, features the participation of multiple high-ranking Ukrainian officials. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky is not among them. He had warned that the next 24 hours would be “crucial” to the country.
