Ukraine and Russia discuss meeting for peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday morning that a Ukrainian delegation could meet a Russian delegation near the country’s border with Belarus “without preconditions.”  

The discussions were quickly overshadowed however, by breaking news that Putin had escalated Moscow's nuclear readiness as he lashed out against what he considers to be "aggressive statements" from NATO allies and the west. 

Still, there was no immediate indication the plan for possible peace talks were off. 

The news of such talks was originally announced on Zelensky’s official Telegram and broken in English by The Kyiv Independent on Twitter. It was later corroborated by Axios, a U.S. political news site.  

⚡️⚡️⚡️BREAKING: Ukraine confirms peace talks with Russia today.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 27, 2022

Zelensky said on his official Telegram account that the two groups had agreed to meet on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River, after a phone call with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

During a phone call with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that the Ukrainian delegation would meet with the Russian delegation without preconditions on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 27, 2022

Ukraine had previously rejected talks proposed by Moscow inside Belarus, a Russian ally, calling it “propaganda” and demanding a more neutral location.  

"Zelensky's position remains unchanged: only real negotiations, no ultimatums,” said Mykhailo Pololyak, an advisor to Zelensky.

Lukashenko would take responsibility for ensuring that all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on Belarusian territory remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation’s travel, talks and return, said Zelensky.

Lukashenko has taken responsibility for ensuring that all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on Belarusian territory remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation's travel, talks and return, Zelensky's office wrote.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 27, 2022

The forces of Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have stalled in the face of stiff resistance in Ukrainian cities. The capital of Kiev remains in Ukrainian control. Kharkiv saw heavy fighting overnight but has since been retaken by Ukraine, according to its governor. 

This is a breaking story, check back for more details.