Istanbul: New conversations between Ukraine and Russia have begun in the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, as Kyiv seeks a cease-fire.

According to a report on Ukrainian television, Ukraine and Russia began negotiations in Turkey on Tuesday without exchanging a handshake.

"There was a frigid reception, no handshake," a Ukrainian reporter reported," without indicating whether he was present at the meeting or received this information from officials.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a political adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted a statement of the Turkish president, "Continuing the conflict is not in anyone's best interests. Your country, as well as all others, will profit from restoring peace. As delegations, you share historical responsibility for today's decisions." At the start of the Istanbul round of discussions between Ukraine and Russia, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated.

"Put an end to this tragedy," he encouraged both sets of negotiators.

Ukraine hopes for a cease-fire that does not compromise its sovereignty or territorial integrity. According to sources, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was present.

As negotiators for both sides prepare for a new round of negotiations aimed at ending the horrific month-long battle, Volodymyr Zelensky said his government is "seriously" evaluating a Russian demand for Ukrainian neutrality, a significant area of dispute, it is said.

Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine's deputy prime minister, said her government hopes to open three humanitarian corridors today to evacuate inhabitants from besieged towns and cities.

As crucial supplies run out, the International Committee of the Red Cross has urged Ukraine and Russia to achieve a clear agreement for the safe evacuation of civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine and other locations.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) director-general, Robert Mardini, stated that the neutral humanitarian organisation would not assist in any forcible evacuations of civilians from Ukraine because it had no first-hand information that this was taking place. He also claimed that the ICRC was the target of a "campaign of misinformation" on social media.

In the horrific battle that has lasted far longer than Moscow's leaders imagined, the UN believes that at least 1,100 civilians have died and more than 10 million have been displaced.