Mar 4, 2022: In the first clear sign of progress in talks between the warring parties, Russia and Ukraine have agreed on the need for humanitarian corridors to provide aid and help evacuate civilians from besieged Ukrainian cities.

Russian negotiator Vladimir Medansky described Thursday’s talks as “substantial progress” – the second round of talks since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine – saying “the main issue we have resolved today is the salvation of people, civilians who have found themselves in a zone of military clashes”.

However, he did not say when the safe passage could be established. The agreement reached in Belarus came as Russian forces laid siege to Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv and the second largest city Kharkiv. Thousands are believed to have been killed or injured in the eight-day conflict, with more than a million people fleeing the fighting, which the United Nations has called the fastest exodus of refugees in a century.

Mykhailo Podolyak, Ukraine’s negotiator, said the two sides had agreed to establish “lines of communication and co-operation” as soon as possible to facilitate the evacuation of civilians.

Podolyak said temporary halt to fighting in select locations was also possible, “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.