A third round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have begun as the two sides seek a path to end Moscow's unprovoked invasion of its neighbor.
Establishing a humanitarian corridor to allow civilians to flee several cities that have come under heavy shelling by Russian troops is expected to be one of the main topics in the talks on March 7 after earlier attempts to create safe passageways failed.
The location of the talks has not been disclosed, but it is expected they will take place near the border between Belarus and Ukraine.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine Live Briefing: Incursion Into The North CaucasusRussia had announced a limited cease-fire and the establishment of safe corridors to allow civilians to flee some besieged Ukrainian cities on March 7. But the evacuation routes led to Russia and its ally, Belarus, drawing withering criticism from Ukraine and others, including French President Emmanual Macron.
The United Nations estimates that more than 1.7 million Ukrainians, mostly women, children, and the elderly, have fled the violence that erupted following Russia's invasion on February 24. More than 1 million of those refugees have crossed into neighboring Poland.