He said that they are assessing what happened on Monday, the stances taken, and the president has been completely briefed of the minimum details of the talks. He added that they will decide their stance and, if necessary, they will prepare a new meeting afterwards.

The Ukrainian foreign minister stressed that his country is willing to meet and solve the situation diplomatically, but it would not attend negotiations if Russia is planning to announce ultimatums.

Previously, a Russian source told TASS news agency that the next round of negotiations between the parties would be held on Wednesday.

The first meeting between the parties was held in the Belarusian city of Gopel on Monday and, according to comments, important points were found on which progress can be made.

Chairman of Russia’s State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs, Leonid Slutsk, one of the members of the Russian delegation, told the Russian TV channel Rossiya 24 that the Ukrainian delegation was willing to listen and participate in a detailed discussion on the essence of the topics of the agenda.

After five hours of discussion, the leaders of both delegations briefed the presidents of their respective countries on the unfolding of the negotiations before the next meeting.

Advisor to the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Mikhail Podoliak, described the peace talks as difficult, but said they unfolded without “mandatory ultimatums.”

ef/aph/oda/mml