Thanasis Gavos, London
Russia and Ukraine are discussing a ceasefire as part of a possible deal that would see Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions in exchange for security guarantees and the prospect of EU membership, the Financial Times reported, citing four people who have received information.
The same sources claim that the draft of the ceasefire agreement in view of the new round of talks in Turkey does not include any reference to the three initial central Russian demands: the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, the demilitarization of the country and the legal protection of the Russian language.
President Zelensky’s adviser David Arahamia told the British newspaper that the two sides were close to an agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine that would accompany non-NATO membership and possible EU membership. issues there are individual “unresolved points”.
Another source conveys to the FT the Ukrainian concern about the change of Russian positions “almost every day”.
Under the agreement under discussion, along with non-NATO membership, Ukraine would refrain from developing nuclear weapons or hosting foreign military bases on its territory.
In return, what Mr. Arahamia calls “phraseology close to NATO Article 5” would be created, that is, with the help of the guarantor forces if Ukraine is attacked. Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, China, Italy, Poland, Israel and Turkey are named as guarantors.
Any agreement would have to be approved by these forces and ratified by their parliaments, President Zelensky said on Sunday. Mr. Arahamia states that there has been no rejection of the proposal to guarantee Ukrainian security so far.
Ukraine, moreover, would put the agreement to a referendum in a few months before changing its constitution, Mr Zelensky added, according to the FT.
According to Arahamias, the only unresolved issue is the type of international guarantees that Ukraine is seeking, but the assurances of the guarantors must first be obtained.
The draft announcement of the agreement under consideration leaves the most thorny issue, namely the settlement of the future of Crimea and Donbass, to be resolved in a future discussion between Presidents Putin and Zelensky, according to newspaper sources.
However, Mr. Arahamia emphasizes: “We will never recognize any borders beyond these in our Declaration of Independence. That is the most crucial point. “
According to the report, if a ceasefire is reached and maintained, the two countries’ foreign ministers will meet to draft separate documents to finalize security guarantees and further agreements on social issues, such as the protection of the Russian language in Ukraine.
Efforts would then be made to arrange a meeting of the two presidents.
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