Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, when asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin's earlier statement that talks with Ukraine were at a dead-end, said that negotiations continue, reported Reuters on Tuesday. Podolyak said that talks are very hard, but continue at the level of working sub-groups and said that Russia is trying to put pressure on peace talks with its public statements. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin had said earlier in the day that talks with Ukraine had reached a dead-end and that Ukraine had deviated from the agreements achieved at talks in Istanbul.