According to reports from the Ukrainian president’s office and Turkish media, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Friday to discuss the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the grain trade in the Black Sea, and the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war and political prisoners currently held by Russia.

During the duration of the 24-month conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a NATO-affiliated country, Turkey, has endeavored to uphold positive diplomatic ties with both nations and is predicted to advocate for reconciliation talks between the two adversaries.

A diplomatic source from Turkey stated that Ankara will once again stress their unwavering backing for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence, including Crimea.

Recently, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan encouraged both Ukraine and Russia to initiate discussions about a cease-fire. This came after a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, during which Fidan emphasized that any negotiations should not be seen as accepting or legitimizing Russia’s occupation.

Zelenskyy’s visit in Turkey comes as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced Friday at a government meeting that Kyiv expects to receive about $4.5 billion in March and another $1.5 billion in April from the European Union.

“Kyiv is still urging its allies to provide additional ammunition and weapons in order to halt the progress of Russian soldiers into the western portion of Donetsk, which is currently under Ukrainian control. They are also seeking to prevent Russian forces from infiltrating the northern Kharkiv region.”

Prior to a scheduled trip by Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 15-17, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visited Turkey. The Kremlin has announced that Putin’s visit will take place after the Russian elections.

Ankara lies adjacent to Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has prioritized maintaining positive relationships with both countries. Recently, Ankara has been attempting to convince Russia to resume the Black Sea grain agreement, which permitted Ukraine to export grain smoothly from its Black Sea ports. However, Russia has declined to revive the agreement.

In July of last year, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Initiative, which was facilitated by the U.N and Turkey. They claimed that their requests for improved conditions for their food and fertilizer exports were not being acknowledged.

Ankara has proposed to mediate peace discussions and maintain its business connections with Ukraine’s defense industry, all while strengthening its collaboration in energy with Russia. Furthermore, it has committed to participating in the rebuilding efforts of Ukraine after the war.

According to a source from Turkey, once peace is restored in Ukraine, we plan to maintain our firm support for the country’s efforts towards reconstruction. This support is based on our strategic partnership.

Charges of torture

An expert from the United Nations reported on Friday that Russian military and affiliated organizations routinely employ torture in the Ukraine’s occupied regions, citing a calculated strategy. This was reported by Agence France-Presse.

Alice Jill Edwards, the Special Rapporteur on Torture for the U.N., stated that she reached this determination following a trip to conflict-ridden Ukraine in September.

According to a statement made to the U.N. Human Rights Council, there is a significant amount of evidence supporting the occurrence of torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment as part of Russia’s war strategy. These heinous acts do not seem to be haphazard or insignificant.

In a conversation with journalists, Edwards reported that Ukrainian officials informed her of approximately 103,000 active investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity. Of these cases, 90 percent were categorized as instances of torture.

According to Edwards, she personally investigated many incidents of claimed mistreatment by Russian forces and their partners. In a report after her visit, she concluded that “organized and systematic torture” had occurred, with similar methods used in multiple occupied areas.

The U.N. Human Rights Council appoints Edwards and other special rapporteurs as independent experts on rights, but they do not represent the views of the U.N.

She urged Moscow on Friday to firmly and clearly declare that torture is never acceptable and will result in punishment.

She requested that Moscow launch inquiries on these accusations and permit international monitors to access all detention facilities and witness legal proceedings.

In regards to the circumstances experienced by Russian prisoners of war held in Ukrainian custody, she stated that genuine attempts were being made by the Ukrainian government to treat them with respect.

The report brought attention to the state of a prison in Lviv, Ukraine, where Ukrainian citizens accused of collaborating with Russia were being detained. It stated that the author had received reports of mistreatment by Ukrainian authorities, particularly during prisoner capture, arrest, and transportation.

She stated that the Ukrainian authorities should promptly investigate these allegations, strengthen training and disciplinary actions, and implement preventive measures. Additionally, she urged them to ensure the protection of the legal rights of all individuals making complaints or being detained.

Data for this report was sourced from Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

Source: voanews.com