After Kyiv agreed to consider neutrality, Russia said on Wednesday that some aspects of a prospective peace deal with Ukraine were close to being agreed upon, bolstering prospects of an end to Europe’s biggest war since World War Two.
“Neutral status is now being seriously considered, coupled with security guarantees, of course,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told RBC news.
“Right now, this is being discussed in negotiations – there are certainly particular formulations that, in my opinion, are on the verge of an agreement,” Lavrov added.
He claimed that in February, President Vladimir Putin mentioned neutrality as a feasible option, coupled with security guarantees for Ukraine in the absence of NATO membership.
Following Lavrov’s remarks, the euro rose 0.4 percent to $ 1.1005 per euro.
Lavrov warned that the talks would be difficult, but that there was “some prospect of achieving an agreement.”
Ukraine has also expressed cautious optimism about the peace talks. It claims that it is willing to talk to resolve the conflict, but that it will not surrender or accept Russian ultimatums.
The security of people in eastern Ukraine, demilitarization of Ukraine, and the rights of Russian-speaking people in Ukraine, according to Lavrov, are all important problems.
Putin criticized the US for threatening Russia by expanding the NATO military alliance eastwards into Russia’s backyard when he announced the invasion on February 24.
Since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, Putin declared they had no choice but to commence the military operation since Russian-speaking people in Ukraine have been subjected to genocide by “nationalists and neo-Nazis.” Allegations of genocide have been dismissed by Ukraine
