Ukraine has not ruled out discussing the country’s possible neutrality in negotiations with Russia. “Such questions could be discussed in negotiations, that’s quite possible,” said Ihor Showkwa, foreign policy advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Tuesday evening in the ARD “Tagesthemen” when asked whether Ukraine could be ready for negotiations to accept neutral status. Showkwa campaigned for a presidential-level meeting.
He emphasized that serious negotiations would only be possible if Russian President Vladimir Putin met Zelenskyy. Selenskyj is ready for this. Unfortunately, the Russian side is not willing to do this. The international partners should help bring about such a meeting. However, such negotiations and a possible agreement could only come about when the hostilities had ceased and there was a ceasefire.
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Then one could discuss “what it could look like with a possible neutrality of Ukraine,” said Showkwa. “We therefore need strict guarantees so that such a situation can never occur again,” he added. “We are not the aggressors, we will never be the aggressors.”
“Guarantee states could be the United States, Turkey and neighboring states of Ukraine,” said a statement from Ukraine’s ruling party, Sluha Narodu (Servant of the People). In addition, Russia must confirm without a doubt that it recognizes Ukrainian statehood “and guarantees that it will not threaten our state”. Since 2019, the goal of joining NATO has been laid down in the Ukrainian constitution. Russia is demanding that Ukraine renounce this and declare itself neutral.
In his statement, Sluha Narodu expressed his willingness to postpone her goal of joining NATO. “The Alliance is not ready to accommodate Ukraine over the next at least 15 years and has made this clear,” it said.
No territorial detachments to Russia
The governing party again rejected any cessions of territory to Russia. “We are not even theoretically considering the possibility of (…) giving up parts of our territory. This is not acceptable. Our Ukraine – that includes Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea.”
On Monday, Zelenskyy showed himself ready for talks on the US broadcaster ABC about the status of the eastern Ukrainian separatist areas and the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea annexed by Russia. However, he too had emphasized that he would not respond to Russian demands to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” and Russian rule over Crimea.
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The Ukrainian President also said: “We can discuss and find a compromise on how these areas can continue.” It is important to pay attention to how the people there who want to be part of Ukraine are doing. It is a much more complicated issue than just recognition. “This is another ultimatum and we do not recognize ultimatums.”
Zelenskyi again called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct negotiations. “What President Putin needs to do is start a conversation, a dialogue, instead of continuing to live in an information bubble without oxygen.” He acknowledged that Russia has air sovereignty over Ukraine. He again called for a no-fly zone. It’s about preventing rocket fire on civilian facilities.
“We are all on site, everyone is working”
Selenskyj had previously confirmed that he did not want to leave the capital despite the fighting. “I’m staying in Kyiv, in my office,” he said in a video message released Monday night. “I’m not hiding, I’m staying in my office. And I’m not afraid of anyone.”
“Today is the twelfth night of our struggle, our defense. We are all on site, everyone is working. Everyone where he has to. I’m in Kyiv, my team with me,” said Zelenskyy.
According to the Presidential Office, Zelenskyy called returned the Ukrainian soldiers deployed on foreign missions. The “highly professional military” would be needed in the fight against “Russian aggression,” it said. According to Ukrainian media, the country is involved in operations in Kosovo, Congo and Ivory Coast.
Zelenskyy also sharply criticized a Russian airstrike west of Kyiv, in which at least 13 civilians were killed, according to Ukrainian sources. “Today they shelled a bakery in Makariv, Kyiv region. For what? An old bakery. Think about it: they’re shelling a bakery. Who do you have to be to do something like that?”
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Russian troops are northwest of Kyiv and are trying to advance towards the capital from the west as well. Russia insists its troops will not attack civilian targets in Ukraine.
Zelenskyj said that talks with Russia would continue. “We are realists. That’s why we’re going to talk. We will insist on negotiations until we find a way to say to our people: This is how we come to peace,” he said. Every day of struggle creates “better conditions” for Ukraine. “A strong position. To secure our future. After this war.” (dpa, AFP)
