Ukraine rejects Russia’s proposal for neutral status
Kiev has rejected Russia’s proposal for a neutral status as part of a peace agreement to end three weeks of conflict in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said on Wednesday its negotiators had proposed that Kiev adopt a neutral status comparable to that of Austria or Sweden.
“This is an option that is being discussed now and that can be considered as a compromise,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
But Kiev immediately rejected the proposal, calling for a legally binding security agreement signed by international partners who would “not stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today.”
“Ukraine is now in a direct state of war with Russia,” said Ukrainian top negotiator Mikhailo Podolyak. “As a result, the model can only be 'Ukrainian' and only on legally verified security guarantees.”
According to international law, neutrality means the obligation of a state, brought about by unilateral declaration or coercion, not to interfere in military conflicts of third states.
Examples of neutrality are Sweden and Austria — two European Union member states that are not members of NATO.
Ukraine has for years aspired to join NATO — one of the reasons Russia launched the campaign against its neighbor on February 24. After three weeks of war, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that his country would not be joining NATO.
Since 2019, joining NATO has been enshrined in the Ukrainian constitution.
Russia and Ukraine have held several rounds of negotiations with the latest bout ending late Tuesday and Kiev pointing to “fundamental contradictions.”
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