Ukrainian Administration on Russian statements regarding neutrality: Model can only be 'Ukrainian'

ROMAN KRAVETS - WEDNESDAY, 16 MARCH 2022, 12:23

Ukraine is demanding a special version of neutrality with legally verifiable and non-protocol security guarantees.

Source: Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of the Ukrainian delegation and adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Public Administration, in a comment for Ukrainska Pravda; Vladimir Medinsky, a member of the Russian delegation and aide to the Russian president, quoted by RIA Novosti.

According to Podolyak: "We understand our partners' attempt to remain a proactive party in the negotiation process. Hence the words about the 'Swedish' or 'Austrian' model of neutrality. But Ukraine is now in a state of direct war with Russia.

Therefore, the model can only be 'Ukrainian' and only about legally verified security guarantees."

"What does this mean? First, absolute security guarantees. Valid, not protocol. And it means that the signatories of the guarantees would not stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today.

But they are actively participating on the side of Ukraine in the conflict and officially ensuring that we are immediately supplied with the necessary amount of weapons."

"And secondly, Ukraine no longer wants to depend on bureaucratic procedures that allow or do not allow the sky to be closed to the same cruise missiles. We need direct and firm guarantees that the skies will definitely be closed."

Details: Podolyak stressed that Ukraine has never been a militarised state that attacked or planned to attack its neighbours, unlike Russia. Therefore, today Ukraine wants to have a strong pool of allies with clear security guarantees.

Podolyak's words were preceded by a statement from a member of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, who said that Ukraine had offered an "Austrian" or "Swedish" version of neutrality during the negotiations.

According to Medinsky: "Ukraine is proposing an 'Austrian' or a 'Swedish' version of a neutral demilitarised state.

But at the same time a state with its own army and navy. All these issues are being discussed at Russian and Ukrainian defence ministry levels".