Russia promises to scale down operations near Kyiv and north Ukraine

Russia has decided to drastically cut military activity around Kyiv and Chernihiv, its deputy defence minister said on Tuesday, after talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams in Istanbul

Russia promised on Tuesday to scale down military operations around Kyiv and northern Ukraine as a confidence-building step, in the most tangible sign yet of progress towards negotiating an end to the war. During talks at a palace in Istanbul, Ukraine for its part proposed adopting neutral status in the most detailed formula yet for a potential settlement to the five-week conflict.
 

Moscow's Feb. 24 invasion has been halted on most fronts by strong resistance, with Ukrainians recapturing territory even as civilians are trapped in besieged cities.

"In order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further