Ukraine rejects Sweden-style neutrality

Dusseldorf, Kyiv Ukraine and Russia intensified their talks on ending the Ukrainian war on Wednesday. A result is still not in sight, but the first details about the proposals from both sides are now becoming known. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sees a chance of a compromise, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed cautious optimism.

There are already concrete formulations “which, in my opinion, are close to being agreed,” said Lavrov. The point is that Ukraine should declare itself neutral. This is now being “seriously discussed, of course in connection with security guarantees”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at noon that a neutral Ukraine with its own military based on the Austrian or Swedish model is one of the possibilities in the negotiations. “It’s a variant that’s being talked about and could be seen as a bit of a compromise.”

The Kiev leadership has rejected calls for neutrality based on the Swedish model. What Ukraine needs is “a powerful pool of supporters with clearly stated security guarantees,” said presidential adviser and negotiator Mykhailo Poldoljak.

With such proposals, Russia is only trying “to gain the initiative in the negotiations”. A “Ukrainian model” is needed, Poldojak explained – with security guarantees from partners who will supply weapons if necessary and close the skies over Ukraine if the country is attacked from the air.

A firm agreement is needed, in which a group of states must guarantee clear legal obligations to actively prevent future attacks, he said. Such a model is on the negotiating table.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said in a video message that peace negotiations must result in an agreement that is fair to Ukraine and includes reliable security guarantees to protect against future threats. He had recently indicated that his government could be willing to renounce NATO membership under certain conditions in the negotiations with Russia.

At a summit meeting in Brussels, the defense ministers of the NATO countries are discussing how to proceed. The question is: How far can and does the alliance dare to advance in the Ukraine war? Germany, France and the USA continue to categorically rule out military intervention in the war.

Ahead of the meeting, Poland has now proposed a “peacekeeping mission” involving NATO. Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said during his visit to Kyiv. “I think there is a need for a peacekeeping mission — NATO, possibly a broader international structure — but a mission capable of self-defense, operating on Ukrainian territory.” The mission could provide humanitarian and peaceful assistance in Ukraine perform and be protected by international armed forces, Kaczynski openly explained.

The idea met with little approval from other NATO countries. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in Brussels that he wanted to first look at the possible details. “I’m afraid it’s too early to talk about it,” said Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren. It is very difficult to imagine a peacekeeping mission given the intensity of the war and the siege of the cities.

The core of the NATO states’ deliberations on Wednesday will be a significant and permanent reinforcement of the eastern flank. It’s about more military in Poland and the Baltic States that directly border Russia. In addition, a discussion about the long-term strengthening of security in all areas should be started, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

One thing is clear: Ukraine will continue to receive weapons from Great Britain, despite Russian warnings. “We continue to supply arms to Ukraine from many directions, and these are going to the front lines,” Wallace said. The Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian military training area Yavoriv near the border with Poland did not make the deliveries any more complicated.

Ukraine: Russian army lost up to 40 percent of units

Alarm was reported from several cities in Ukraine. The Russian bombing raids on Kyiv continued, residential buildings were hit again. According to the Ukrainian general staff, the Russian army has already lost up to 40 percent of the units that have been involved in fighting since the Russian invasion on February 24.

The general staff in Kyiv announced that these troops had either been completely crushed or had lost their fighting strength. He did not give a specific number. The information cannot be independently verified. Neither was the statement that the Russian military was not gaining ground because it had exhausted its resources. About two-thirds of the missiles that Russia fires at Ukrainian targets hit civilian buildings and infrastructure. Russia denies targeting civilians.

The worst situation continues to prevail in the area around the embattled port city of Mariupol, it said. Here the Russian army is trying to blockade the city on the western and eastern edges. However, she suffers significant losses. According to the authorities, around 20,000 people from the city on the Azov Sea, which was surrounded by Russian troops, were able to get to safety on Tuesday.

Altogether almost 30,000 civilians were able to withdraw from embattled towns and villages across the country on Tuesday, Zelenski said. However, a column with relief supplies for Mariupol is still being blocked by Russian soldiers. In the Odessa region, the coast was shelled by Russian ships, Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko said. But there was no attempt to land.

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“You are not alone”: EU heads of government meet Zelensky in Kyiv

The heads of government of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia pledged their solidarity and support to the Ukrainian President Zelenskiy at a meeting in embattled Kyiv. “Here, in war-torn Kyiv, history is being made,” emphasized Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. “Here freedom fights against the world of tyranny. The future of all of us hangs in the balance here,” he said on Twitter.

According to Ukrainian media reports, Selenski described the visit as a big and courageous step. At a time when many foreign embassies had left Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, “these leaders of independent European states” would show that they were not afraid. “They are here to support us. I’m sure that we can really win with friends like this, countries, neighbors and partners like this.”

This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the Ukraine war:

The politicians from Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia traveled to Kyiv by train. According to a Polish government spokesman, the visit was planned in the strictest secrecy in consultation with the EU and NATO. The Ukrainian capital is repeatedly shelled. It was considered possible that the three politicians returned shortly after meeting Zelenskiy. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced a briefing at the Prague-Kbely military airfield for Wednesday morning.

>> Read about this: Arrived in Kyiv: Prime Ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia send a strong signal of solidarity

International efforts to end the fighting are also continuing: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is traveling to Moscow, Polish President Andrzej Duda to Turkey. Ukrainian President Zelensky himself delivers a speech before the US Congress via video transmission.

With agency material.

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