Negotiators agree on temporary, local ceasefires to allow civilian evacuation in Ukraine

Although the second round of ceasefire talks between the Kremlin and Kyiv did not bring Russian hostilities to an end, a Ukrainian negotiator said on Thursday that both sides have agreed on the creation of humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians.

According to Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, negotiators also discussed a possible temporary ceasefire to allow for the evacuation of Ukrainians and protocols for the delivery of medicines and food, Reuters reported.

"That is, not everywhere, but only in those places where the humanitarian corridors themselves will be located, it will be possible to cease fire for the duration of the evacuation," he said.

While the results of the negotiations signified the first time any progress was made between Russian and Ukrainian officials, Podolyak lamented that the outcome had fallen short of the Zelensky government’s hopes.

"To our great regret, we did not get the results we were counting on," he said, without elaborating.

"The only thing I can say is that we discussed the humanitarian aspect in sufficient detail, because quite a lot of cities are now surrounded. There is a dramatic situation with medicines, food, and evacuation," Podolyak said.