Lavrov, Kuleba End First High-Level Talks Since Russian Invasion Of Ukraine With No Progress On Cease-Fire

A handout picture obtained from the Turkish Foreign Ministry Press Office shows Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (center), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left), and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (right) at their meeting in Antalya on March 10

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, the first high-level talks between the two countries since Moscow launch an unprovoked invasion of its neighbor last month, failed to make progress on a cease-fire.

Kuleba said after the meeting in the Turkish resort city of Antalya on March 10, 15 days into the war, that Lavrov did not commit to ensuring a humanitarian corridor in the besieged city of Mariupol.

He added that Ukraine was ready to continue to engage with Russia on finding a path to stop the war.

For his part, Lavrov said Russia was also willing to continue talks, noting that there had been some progress in three rounds of discussions between Kyiv and Moscow at the border with Belarus.

Lavrov said Moscow has presented Ukraine with its proposals on how to end the conflict and expects a reply. Kuleba characterized Russia's demands as nothing short of a full surrender.