Ukraine is ready to talk about neutrality during negotiations with Russia

The “neutral status” has been taken into consideration, says President Zelenskiy, as Ukraine aims for peace “without delay”. Talks will begin in Turkey.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine aims to discuss neutrality during the next face-to-face talks set to start in Turkey. Nevertheless, a referendum must take place among Ukraine’s residents in order to validate the future neutral status of the country.

The Ukrainian President declared:

“Our goal is obvious – peace and the restoration of normal life in our native state as soon as possible. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are beyond doubt. Effective security guarantees for our state are mandatory.”

Moreover, Ukraine is ready to compromise about the Donbas separatist region if this will translate into a peace agreement with its enemy. Demilitarisation, on the other hand, is of the table from the Ukrainian point of view.

Several negotiation attempts between the two countries have failed so far, as the second month of war is currently unveiling in Ukraine.

Next talks are scheduled for Monday, while the situation in Mariupol is still critical and casualties raise at thousands of people. More than 170.000 civilians are currently trapped in Mariupol, as the city is completely destroyed.

More than 2.000 children are believed to be taken away by the Russian troops, Zelenskiy said.

“According to our data, more than 2,000 children were deported. Which means they were abducted. Because we do not know the exact locations of all these children. There were children with and without parents. It’s a catastrophe, it’s horrible”, the President’s Office press release quotes.

The situation in the port city of Mariupol remains a humanitarian catastrophe.

“Food, medicine, and water can’t be delivered. The Russian troops are shelling humanitarian convoys and killing drivers”, it continues.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France, Greece and Turkey are aiming to begin a “humanitarian operation” meant to evacuate surviving civilians.

Meanwhile, Ukraine intelligence chief General Kyrylo Budanov expressed his concerns about Kremlin’s sincerity and good intentions during the negotiations, as Putin is believed to have changed his plans in the attempt to split the country into two. A long-term conflict is now expected by the analysts.

 

Source: theguardian.com