Russia outlines a peace agreement that could put an end to hostilities in Ukraine, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergeĭ Viklov said in negotiations with a “concrete prescription” that a “business-like spirit” He said he had appeared. It has been agreed.
Viklov said on Wednesday Interview On the Russian television channel RBC, he expressed “some hope” that a compromise could be reached between those at war.
“Neutral status is being seriously discussed in relation to security assurance,” Viklov said. “In my view, there is a concrete formulation that is close to an agreement.”
“Negotiating is not easy for obvious reasons, but we may still find a compromise,” Viklov said, a Russian negotiator.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that neutral Ukraine, which has its own army along Austrian or Swedish lines, is a framework that may be being considered in negotiations to end the war. Stated.
“This is a variant currently under discussion and may actually be considered a compromise,” Peskov reportedly said by the Russian RIA news agency.
Peskov commented on the remarks of Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky. He previously told Russian national television: “
Ukraine has not confirmed its willingness to discuss neutral nations, but President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that his accession to NATO was essentially off the table. Ukraine’s potential accession to the Transatlantic Defense Alliance was an important concern for Russia and was used to justify the aggression.
Ukrainian President Mykhailo Podoliyak said Wednesday that several models of neutral nations were being discussed, but that the framework must be “Ukraine” and must include security.
Podoliak said Go to Interfax Ukaine News ServiceComment on Medinsky’s remarks on the neutral “Austria” or “Sweden” model.
“Sure, we understand our partners’ attempts to maintain a positive side in the negotiation process, so it’s a word about the Swedish or Austrian neutral model,” he said.
“But Ukraine is currently in a state of direct war with the Russian Federation. Therefore, the model is” Ukrainian “and could only be about legally verified” security guarantees “. And there are no other models or options, “Podoliak added.
Austria, which Russia cites as a potential model, is bound by a constitution that prohibits entry into military alliances and the establishment of foreign military bases on its territory.
Podoliak made it clear that security must be enforceable and “effective,” unlike the 1994 Budapest Memorandum of Understanding between the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and Ukraine.
Under the Budapest Agreement, Ukraine agreed to transfer nuclear weapons to Russia in exchange for security that its sovereignty would not be violated, but these guarantees remain ambiguous and if Ukraine is attacked. The pledge of direct Western military involvement was not included.
“This means that the signatories of the warranty are not standing aside during the attack on Ukraine as they are today,” Podoliak said. Instead, he stipulates that security officers need to “formally guarantee that they will actively participate on the Ukrainian side in the conflict and provide us with the required amount of weapons immediately.” Said.
Ukrainian Western allies have continued to provide defensive weapons, but have been unable to provide offensive weapons such as fighters. They also drew a line to the NATO army of Ukrainian soil.
Podoliak added that the security that Ukraine seeks as part of peace negotiations must also include a guarantor’s pledge to apply the no-fly zone.
Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have requested NATO to deploy a no-fly zone over Ukraine. This is a move that Western allies have rejected because they have escalated too much and are at risk of causing World War III.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Tom Ozimek has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communication, and adult education. The best writing advice he has ever heard is from Roy Peter Clark.