Turkey says positions of Russia and Ukraine now nearer on 'critical' issues, hopeful for ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine were nearing agreement on "critical" matters and a ceasefire is possible if neither side backtracks, Turkey's foreign minister said.

In an interview with Turkish daily Hurriyet at the weekend, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that there had been a "rapprochement in the positions of both sides on important subjects, critical subjects".

"We can say we are hopeful for a ceasefire if the sides do not take a step back from the current positions."

In parallel, speaking to al Jazeera, Turkish presidential spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said that the positions of Kyiv and Moscow as regards Ukraine renouncing NATO membership, demilitarisation, de-nazification and protecting the Russian language were now nearer.

However, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, did not believe that positions on strategic issues such as the status of Crimea and Donbass were not close enough for him to meet in person with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and agree on a ceasefire, Kalin reportedly added.

Along similar lines, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, poured cold water on expectations for a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, saying that "there has been no significant progress so far".

"For us to speak of a meeting between the two presidents, homework has to be done. Talks have to be held and their results agreed upon.

"[...] Those (countries) who can should use their influence over Kyiv to make it more accommodating and construction at these talks."