Russian official sees progress with Ukraine on neutrality, not on 'denazification'

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) listens to Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky as they watch the project of a monument to Mikhail Kalashnikov, the Russian inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle, during a visit at firearms maker Kalashnikov Concern in Izhevsk, Russia, September 20, 2016. Sputnik/Kremlin/Mikhail Klimentyev/via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia's lead negotiator in talks with Ukraine said on Friday they were making progress on the topic of demilitarising the country, but not on Moscow's demand to "denazify" its neighbour.

Twenty-two days after Russia invaded Ukraine, and after a series of talks in person and by video link, Vladimir Medinsky said the two countries were "halfway there" on the question of Ukraine adopting neutral status.