Zelensky Reiterates Readiness For Talks With Putin, Turkey Sees Progress On Key Issues

Ukraine's President Zelensky reiterated he was "ready for negotiations" with Russia's Vladimir Putin, adding that "without negotiations we cannot end this war" as Russian rockets continued to pound Ukrainian cities over the weekend. The President told the CNN that "if these attempts fail, that would mean that this is a third World War." In the meantime, negotiatig teams from both countries are planning to resume talks Monday morning in a video format, following "extremely intensive" discussions in working subgroups.

• Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu suggested that the two sides were "close to agreement on fundamental issues." He told pro-government Hurriyet newspaper that there was growing convergence on Ukraine's neutral status (i.e. abandoning its pursuit of NATO membership), demilitarisation of Ukraine in exchange for mutual security guarantees, the process Russia calls "denazification" and the removal of restrictions on the use of Russian in Ukraine. Cavusoglu pointed to potential for ceasefire "if the parties do not step back from their current positions," adding that some issues still have to be resolved directly between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. While it is unclear what Russia means by "denazification," Financial Times sources noted that "it was likely a compromise [on the matter] would involve token concessions from Kyiv."
• Elsewhere, the Russian military issued an ultimatum to defenders of the besieged city of Mariupol located on the Sea of Azov. Ukrainian troops were given until 05:00am Monday to lay their arms and leave, after which Russia would open humanitarian corridors to the east and west of the city. The ultimatum comes as Russian shelling has virtually levelled Mariupol, destroying an estimated 80% of the its housing stock. The city has been a target of intense Russian attacks owing to its strategic location on the route connecting the Donbas and Crimea.