Russian Official Demands Ukraine's Neutrality in Future Peace Agreement

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that any peace deal with Ukraine should guarantee its neutral status and exclude it from NATO membership. This demand comes as discussions for a potential ceasefire continue, with international leaders weighing the implications of the conflict.

Russia has made it clear that any peace negotiations concerning Ukraine's enduring conflict must include assurances of the country's neutral status and specifically prohibit its accession to NATO. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko emphasized the necessity for what he described as "ironclad security guarantees" to be integral to any agreement reached, as reported by Russian media outlet Izvestia.

Amid this backdrop, preparations continue for dialogues between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing crisis. Both nations, alongside Ukraine, have put forward the proposal of a 30-day ceasefire, although Putin has laid out stringent conditions that must be fulfilled for such a truce to be effective.

One focal point in these talks is the contentious Kursk region, where Ukraine launched military operations last August, claiming portions of the territory. Putin has asserted that Russian forces have regained full control of this area, suggesting that Ukrainian troops in the region are now cut off. Concerns have been voiced by Putin regarding how the ceasefire could be effectively monitored and upheld along the eastern frontline, where clashes have been regular.

In response to these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Putin of undermining diplomatic efforts aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire. Meanwhile, US envoy Steve Witkoff, following a meeting with Putin, indicated that a call between Trump and Putin is likely to occur in the near future.

During his electoral campaign, Trump had pledged to conclude the war, which escalated following Russia's invasion in 2022, asserting that he would initiate negotiations to bring an end to the conflict from his first day in office. However, questions regarding the status of Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine remain unaddressed in the discussions, as Russia is currently reported to control approximately twenty percent of Ukrainian land.