Ukraine-Russia: Russia wants Ukraine to surrender, foreign minister warns, following high-level talks

Russia is seeking a surrender from Ukraine, the Ukrainian foreign minister has said, following the highest level talks between the two sides since the conflict began.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said he hoped the meeting between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in a Mediterranean resort "will open the door to a permanent ceasefire".

However, Mr Kuleba said the two sides discussed a 24-hour ceasefire, but did not make any progress. He said Russia was still seeking "a surrender from Ukraine".

Mr Kuleba said: "Russia is not in a position at this point to establish a ceasefire. They seek a surrender from Ukraine. This is not what they're going to get. Ukraine is strong, Ukraine is fighting."

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba gives a press conference after meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister for talks in Antalya, on March 10, 2022. - Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers are in Turkey to hold face-to-face talks in the first high-level contact since the invasion began. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

He added he would be happy to continue the dialogue with Mr Lavrov.

Previous talks between the two sides had taken place on the border between Ukraine and Belarus last week.

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