Ukraine says pact reached with Russia to create safe corridors backed by cease-fires for evacuations

[Uncle Joe]

Ukraine said it has agreed with Russia to create safe corridors backed by cease-fires to evacuate civilians and deliver aid as a second round of negotiations began Thursday amid Russia's ferocious assault on its neighbor.

Officials from both nations are meeting in Belarus as the war entered its second week. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine accept “demilitarization," declare itself neutral and drop its bid to join NATO.

Earlier Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Putin for 90 minutes and now believes “the worst is yet to come," a Macron aide told France24. Putin reportedly vowed to conduct an “uncompromising fight" in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s major cities have come under heavy bombardment, a senior Defense Department official said Thursday. About 90% of the 150,000 combat forces Putin deployed to Ukraine’s borders are now inside the country, said the official, who described military movements on condition of anonymity.

(snip)


https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/03/03/ukraine-russia-invasion-live-updates/9353494002/

[live love laugh]

1. This is a ray of hope.

I saw earlier stmts this morning that Russia would not cease even w/talks.

[quixotic1]

2. Call me jaded, if you must

But, I find it hard to believe that Russia would honor any agreement at this point, outside of unconditional surrender.

I hope I'm wrong about that, but I'm not going to hold my breath.