Russia, Ukraine reach understanding on humanitarian corridors

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Russia and Ukraine's delegations to the talks in Belarus have reached an understanding on humanitarian corridors and a ceasefire during evacuations, an adviser to the head of Zelensky's office said Thursday.

"The parties have reached an understanding on the joint provision of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of the civilian population," and medicine and foodstuff delivery to areas of tense clashes, adviser Mikhail Podolyak added.

He also added that the parties also discussed a temporary ceasefire in areas where evacuations will be held.

The talks also saw Moscow and Kiev discussing the future political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, according to Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.

"We have just completed talks with the Ukrainian side, where we had a detailed discussion of all three blocks of issues, the military issue, the international issue, the humanitarian issue, as well as the future political settlement of the conflict," Medinsky said on RT following the talks.

He highlighted that the positions of Moscow and Kiev were straightforward and recorded point by point.

"We managed to reach mutual understanding on some [issues], but the principal issue addressed today is the rescue of people, civilians who are in zones of military clashes," Medinsky said.

He clarified that the representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries agreed on the regime to maintain humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of the civilian population, including temporary cessation of hostilities.

"This is substantial progress," Medinsky declared.

Belarusian foreign ministry spokesperson Anatoly Glaz had announced earlier Thursday that the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations have started.

The Russian-Ukrainian negotiations began in Belarus on Monday, after the Ukrainian delegation arrived Sunday in Gomel, Belarus.

Last Thursday, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine in response to requests from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for assistance in combating Ukrainian troops' aggression.