Moscow is turning up the heat with a call for concrete security guarantees from the U.S. and NATO as a key part of any Ukraine peace deal. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko explained that Ukraine's neutral status and a firm rejection of NATO membership must be central to these guarantees. He pointed out that since 2019, military forces on NATO's eastern flank have doubled, while Europe’s ongoing rearmament only adds to Moscow's security worries. 🔥
In his view, the idea of deploying NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine isn’t on the table. Instead, Russia favors alternatives like unarmed observers or a civilian monitoring group to help supervise any future agreement. Grushko stressed that discussions on peacekeeping should only happen after a formal peace deal is in place, arguing that NATO’s historical military operations make its involvement in peacekeeping incompatible.
Meanwhile, talk of diplomacy takes an interesting turn as U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation, set for Tuesday, aims to advance a 30-day ceasefire concept that includes discussions over land and power plants. This move adds another layer to the complex negotiations.
On the other side of the debate, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that there will be no territorial concessions to Russia in any bid for a ceasefire. Zelenskyy firmly stated that the occupied Ukrainian territories will never be recognized as Russian, highlighting the deep-rooted challenges in finding common ground.
As the situation evolves, these decisive stances underscore the immense pressure to balance security needs and territorial integrity in the ongoing conflict. Stay tuned as this high-stakes drama unfolds on the global stage! 🌍
Reference(s):
Moscow seeks security guarantees, Kyiv rejects territorial concessions
cgtn.com
