Ukrainian neutrality is now on the table at the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. In comments to RBC, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: “Neutral status is now being seriously discussed along, of course, with security guarantees…. There are absolutely specific formulations which in my view are close to agreement.” Lavrov said that President Vladimir Putin had spoken about neutrality, along with security guarantees for Ukraine without NATO enlargement, as one possible variant in February, according to a report in Reuters. Lavrov cautioned that the negotiations were not easy but that there was “some hope of reaching a compromise.” Lavrov reiterated that the key issues for Russia in the talks are security for Donbas, Ukraine’s demilitarization, and the rights of Russian-speaking people in Ukraine.
Speaking about the negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated yesterday that there is some progress. “The meetings continue. As I am informed, the positions in the negotiations sound more realistic. However, time is still needed for the decisions to be in Ukraine’s interests,” he said.
