Chaly explains how Russia will be a guarantor of security for Ukraine

ALONA MAZURENKO - TUESDAY, 29 MARCH 2022, 20:44

A representative of the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations with Russia, Oleksandr Chaly, has stated that Russia should sign security guarantees for Ukraine.

Source: Interview with Chaly for Ukrainian TV channels

Quote: "Among the guarantor countries (for the security of Ukraine - ed.) Russia will be on a par with all others (not have special status). No matter how it sounds - it will be a separate country. In terms of international law, the essence of the legal agreement on Ukraine’s security guarantees, it will be one of the guarantor countries.

And the most important thing we have managed to achieve is that Russia, in implementing an article that allows other guarantor countries to use and provide us with armed forces to protect our security, Russia has agreed that it will not have a right of veto in this."

Details: According to Chaly, in this case, in the event of a threat to Ukraine, the guarantor countries may not consult with Russia on providing Ukraine with armed forces or closing the skies: "Russia will already give its prior consent."

Quote: "The key word for us is guarantees of Ukraine's security, which we can get as part of a diplomatic settlement of the consequences of Russian aggression and restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and security.

We are now pushing for these guarantees to have a clear legal form and to be very specific. These guarantees are, in fact, analogous to Article 5 of NATO.

We are striving to ensure that if in the future Ukraine becomes the target of aggression or a military attack or a military special operation, Ukraine will be able to hold urgent consultations within 3 days. If no diplomatic solution is found during these consultations, the guarantor countries will be obliged to help Ukraine by all possible means. Including closing the skies, providing weapons, and assistance from their armed forces. In fact, it gives us the same security guarantees we would get if we joined NATO.

We are looking for a way to make our dream come true - to have guarantees that NATO countries have, but these guarantees would be obtained through a NATO-Ukraine-Russia agreement."

Details: According to Chaly, Ukraine clearly explained at the meeting that these guarantees must be in a clear legal form, be binding and must be ratified by the parliaments of the guarantor countries, because Ukraine has a sad experience from the Budapest Memorandum.

Chaly added that Ukraine is trying to find a format of "joining NATO" without actual accession.

The Ukrainian diplomat stated that 5 states that are members of the UN Security Council should become guarantors for Ukraine's security. Among them is Russia.

He added that the relevant negotiations would contribute to the development of a document, which will involve representatives of the guarantor countries.

According to him, Russia is currently agreeing to negotiations on issues that could not have been imagined as recently as two weeks ago. Chaly added that this was the result of resistance from the Ukrainian army and all the citizens of Ukraine.

The United States, Great Britain, Turkey, France and Germany should be security guarantors for Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian representatives.

Earlier, the president added that Italy also agreed to become a guarantor.