In the latest developments of the ongoing conflict, Russia has called for concrete security guarantees from the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), emphasizing Ukraine’s neutral status and a halt to its potential NATO membership.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated on Sunday that such guarantees are essential for any future agreements on Ukraine. “Ukraine’s neutrality and NATO’s rejection of its membership must be central to these guarantees,” Grushko said in an interview with local media.
Grushko expressed concerns over the increasing number of NATO military contingents on its eastern flank, which he claims have doubled since 2019. “This poses a significant threat to Russia,” he noted, adding that the ongoing rearmament of European countries exacerbates Moscow’s security concerns.
Regarding peacekeeping efforts, Russia dismissed the possibility of deploying NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine. Instead, Grushko proposed the idea of unarmed observers or a civilian monitoring group to oversee any potential peace deal. “NATO and peacekeeping are entirely incompatible. The history of the alliance consists of military operations and unprovoked aggression to assert its global and regional dominance,” he asserted.
On the other side, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly ruled out any territorial concessions to Russia as a condition for a ceasefire. “Our position is that we do not recognize the occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian under any circumstances,” Zelenskyy told reporters on Saturday, as reported by the UNIAN news agency.
Zelenskyy confirmed that potential territorial concessions were discussed during a recent meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the issue is “complex” and should be addressed later at the negotiating table. “Washington has taken into account Kyiv’s stance on the issue,” he added.
The conflict, which escalated in February 2022, has seen increased international efforts to mediate a peace agreement. However, key sticking points remain, with Russia demanding security guarantees and Ukraine opposing any loss of its territories.
