World prays for diplomatic solution, end of war in Ukraine

The 21st day of warfare continued throughout Ukraine on Wednesday, after Russian forces invaded the country on Feb. 24.

Only a glimmer of hope emerged that the bloodshed and destruction will end, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters that his country and Ukraine are ‘close to agreeing’ on neutral status.

A deal with Kiev on so-called “neutral status” for Ukraine, as part of a peace agreement could be close, Russia’s foreign minister added.

Lavrov suggested in a media interview that talks with Ukrainian leadership were making ground despite the continued bloodshed, echoing cautiously optimistic comments overnight by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

In a video address in the early hours of Wednesday, Zelenskiy said he believed there was possible room for compromise.

He stated: “…The meetings continue and, I am informed, the positions during the negotiations already sound more realistic. But time is still needed for the decisions to be in the interests of Ukraine.”

A Kremlin spokesperson on Wednesday said that Ukraine becoming a neutral state, with a status comparable to Austria and Sweden, is being discussed at talks with Kiev, and would be a “compromise”.

On the battle fields, Ukraine’s armed forces are conducting small-scale counterattacks on several fronts and Russian troops have not been able to gain ground because of a lack of resources, a Ukrainian presidential adviser emphasized on Wednesday.

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