Russia is no longer requesting Ukraine be “denazified” and is prepared to let Kyiv join the EU if it remains militarily non-aligned as part of ceasefire negotiations, according to four people briefed on the discussions, writes The Financial Times.

“Moscow and Kyiv are discussing a pause in hostilities as part of a possible deal that would involve Ukraine abandoning its drive for NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees and the prospect of joining the EU, the people said under the condition of anonymity because the matter was not yet finalised.

The draft ceasefire document does not contain any discussion of three of Russia’s initial core demands - “denazification”, “demilitarisation” and legal protection for the Russian language in Ukraine - the people added.

Envoys are to meet in Istanbul on Tuesday in a fourth round of peace talks designed to end President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The concessions on Russia’s side came as its month-long ground offensive has largely stalled as a result of fiercer Ukrainian resistance than expected and Russian operational deficiencies.

But Ukraine and its western backers remained sceptical of Putin’s intentions, worrying that the Russian president could be using the talks as a smokescreen to replenish his exhausted forces and plan a fresh offensive.

David Arakhamia, head of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s party in parliament and a member of Kyiv’s negotiating team, told the Financial Times that the parties were close to agreement on the security guarantees and Ukraine’s EU bid, but urged caution about the prospects for a breakthrough.

“All the issues” have been “on the table since the beginning” of negotiations but “lots of points - like in every single item there are unresolved points”, Arakhamia said”, - writes the author.