ISTANBUL: Russia and Ukraine began a new round of peace negotiations in Istanbul on Tuesday, in yet another attempt to reach a ceasefire in the ongoing Moscow-Kiev conflict.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated shortly before the meeting began in the Dolmabahce Presidential Working Office in Istabul's Besiktas district that the moment had come for negotiations to produce concrete results, reports said. The Turkish president demanded an early cease-fire, claiming that a protracted confrontation is not in anyone's best interests.

"The entire world is waiting for you to provide some good news. We are willing to help in any way that will make your job simpler "Erdogan went on to say that Turkey is willing to organise a summit between Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

Russia and Ukraine have held three rounds of in-person discussions in Belarus since February 28, with the fourth session taking place by video conference. Russia is demanding, among other things, that Ukraine forsake any plans to join NATO, a topic on which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he is willing to compromise.

The destiny of separatist-held regions in Ukraine's east, as well as the status of Crimea, which Russia formally seized in 2014, are anticipated to be considered.

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