Currents News Staff
It’s a significant move on two fronts.
Russia is pulling back some forces from Kyiv and Chernihiv following the latest peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, with Turkey hailing the talks as the “most meaningful progress yet.”
More than a month into the invasion, many are crediting the underestimated resilience of the Ukrainian people.
“I do think that Ukraine is in a good negotiating position,” said Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth. “Much better than they would be had they not been able to push the Russians out of Kyiv.”
Paramount to Russia’s change in strategy is an agreement on “neutrality.” A Ukrainian presidential advisor is saying a meeting between Putin and Zelensky is now a “likelihood.”
But the shelling of northern cities continued on Tuesday even as the de-escalation was announced.
“You have just heard an explosion,” said Chernihiv mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko. “That means something has flown in to attack us. This isn’t us striking something. This is something that has come from the enemy side.”
U.S. officials believe Russian forces are pulling back in some areas of the North to focus on gains in the south and the east.
But Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautions this could be a deception.
“There is what Russia says, and there is what Russia does,” said Blinken. “We’re focused on the latter.”