Russia insists on its conditions for continuing negotiations with Ukraine

A Kremlin spokesman says a Russian delegation will be ready on Wednesday evening to resume talks with Ukrainian officials about the war in Ukraine.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday that “in the second half of the day, closer to evening, our delegation will be in place to await Ukrainian negotiators.”

The Russian delegation is said to be headed by former Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky.

Peskov did not specify where the talks could take place.

There was no immediate word from Ukrainian authorities about their plans.

The first round of talks on resolving the Russia-Ukraine war were held near the Belarus-Ukraine border last Sunday.

They produced no breakthrough, though the two sides agreed to meet again.

Peskov stressed that Russia would insist on the demands made by President Vladimir Putin. 

Moscow has declared the recognition of the "People's Republics" of Luhansk and Donetsk, the recognition of Russia's sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea and the "demilitarization" of Ukraine as its conditions for continuing negotiations.