Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine begin on Belarusian border


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations began Monday on the border between Ukraine and Russian-allied Belarus, The Hill reports.
Per The Hill, the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — who is not attending the talks — said Ukraine's goal is a ceasefire and the withdrawal of invading Russian forces.
In a televised address Sunday, Zelensky told Ukrainians he was not optimistic about achieving this goal. He said the meeting would likely achieve nothing but that he wanted to show his people he tried "to stop the war when there was even a small chance."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Russian delegation is insisting that Ukraine "demilitarize and denazify," according to The Washington Post. Although there is a neo-Nazi militia group fighting with Ukraine's military, Russian sources regularly overstate the influence of neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine. Zelensky, who is Jewish, was elected in 2019 with almost 75 percent of the vote.
The Post also reports that Belarus is planning to send troops into Ukraine as early as Monday, according to a U.S. official. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko previously allowed Russian troops to launch missiles from inside Belarus and to use the country as a staging ground for their invasion, but did not commit Belarusian troops to the war.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Enemy without
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
The daily gossip: Prime Video is getting ads unless you pay more, Lizzo accepts humanitarian award after being sued again, and more
The daily gossip: September 22, 2023
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The week's best photojournalism
In Pictures A woman picking cotton, a dog dressed up as a lion and more
By Anahi Valenzuela Published
-
Will the US keep aiding Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Republicans give Volodymyr Zelenskyy a 'cold shoulder' in D.C.
By Joel Mathis Published
-
Corruption in Kyiv: how Zelenskyy is taking on Ukraine's other big enemy
The Explainer Ukranian president has purged his Ministry of Defence as Kyiv looks to shore up support in the West
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Could a US government shutdown harm Ukrainian war efforts?
Talking Point What could the effects of diminished American aid to Ukraine be?
By Justin Klawans Published
-
The pros and cons of EU expansion
Pros and cons The bloc has come under pressure to begin admitting new members by 2030
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Disunited nations: has the UN lost its relevance?
Missing figures at UN General Assembly lead to broad questions about the organisation's credibility
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
Azerbaijan attacks disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, breaking cease-fire
The 'local anti-terrorist' strikes in the ethnic Armenian enclave threaten to reignite a war with implications for Russia, Turkey and the West
By Peter Weber Published
-
Russia and Ukraine face off in The Hague over genocide case
Kyiv is hoping court will rule Russia's actions illegal but Moscow wants the case dismissed
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
Rishi Sunak lambasts China after allegations of spy in UK Parliament
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published