Russia attacks Ukraine: Moscow says it will cut military activity in Kyiv, Chernihiv (Live updates)

Russian leaders say they will be cutting back on military activity in Kyiv and Chernihiv as leaders from Russia and Ukraine sit down to hopefully bring an end to the monthlong fighting.

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Update 9:09 a.m. EDT March 29: Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that progress was made during talks in Istanbul that could allow Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet. Podolyak also said that the two countries will continue talks online 24/7,” but that Ukrainian representatives need “clear legal wording.”

“The Russian delegation is constructive and aware. This doesn’t mean that negotiations are easy. They are very difficult. But the Russian side is paying attention to the Russian proposals, to the Ukrainian proposals,” he said, CNN reported.

Podolyak also said that the status of Crimea was discussed. The region had been annexed by Russia in 2014.

“I want to emphasize as regards the territories of Crimea and Sevastopol, it was agreed in bilateral format to take a pause for 15 years and conduct bilateral talks on the status of these territories,” he said, according to CNN.

Original report: Russian officials said the move is to increase the trust between the two sides, The Associated Press reported.

Russia’s deputy defense minister said that his country has decided to “fundamentally ... cut back” operations near Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv and Chernihiv.

Alexander Fomin made the statement after another round of talks were held between the two countries in Istanbul, and is the first major concession by the Russians since they invaded Ukraine last month.

“Due to the fact that negotiations on the preparation of an agreement on the neutrality and non-nuclear status of Ukraine, as well as on the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine, are moving into practice, taking into account the principles discussed during today’s meeting, by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achieving the ultimate goal of agreeing on the signing of the above agreement, a decision was made to radically, at times, reduce military activity in the Kiev [Kyiv] and Chernigov [Chernihiv]direction,” Fomin said, according to CNN.

Ukrainian officials said they had noticed Russian troops withdrawing from around the cities, the AP reported. But General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned that there is still a risk of Russian troops attacking infrastructure, CNN reported.

The Russian leaders are saying they are having problems trying to reinforce and bring in new fighters because of the “refusal of personnel to participate in the so-called special operation,” and are “not able to staff even one battalion-tactical group,” CNN reported.

Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti, citing the Russian delegation, also suggested there could be a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, CNN reported.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky called the discussions in Istanbul “constructive,” RIA reported, according to CNN.

The Ukraine delegation has not released a statement.

Previous coverage:

• Vladimir Putin: Who is Russia’s president?

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Who is Ukraine’s president?

• What does the Russian invasion of Ukraine mean for America’s economy?

• Russia attacks Ukraine: How to donate to people in Ukraine

• 6 things to know about Ukraine

• Why did Russia fight for control of Chernobyl, the site of a nuclear disaster?

• How to talk to children about the conflict in Ukraine