On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia and Ukraine are close to reaching a deal on Kyiv’s neutrality, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said peace talks are beginning to sound “more realistic.”
“Neutral status is now being seriously discussed along, of course, with security guarantees,” Lavrov told RBC. “Now this very thing is being discussed in negotiations – there are absolutely specific formulations which in my view are close to agreement.”
Ukrainian officials have said they’re open to discussing neutrality as long as Ukraine receives security guarantees from Russia as well as Western powers. Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said Wednesday that a potential plan for security guarantees was being discussed.
“Model of security guarantees is on the negotiating table. What does this mean? A rigid agreement with a number of guarantor states undertaking clear legal obligations to actively prevent attacks,” Podolyak wrote on Twitter.
Also on Wednesday, Financial Times reported that Ukraine and Russia have made significant progress in recent negotiations and have drawn up a tentative 15-point peace plan. The report cited three unnamed people involved in the talks, who said the deal would involve Russian troops leaving Ukraine if Kyiv declares neutrality and accepts limits on its armed forces.
The report said under the proposed deal, Ukraine would renounce its plan to join NATO and promise not to host foreign military bases or weapons in exchange for protection from NATO allies, including the US and the UK. But the nature of the security guarantees is not clear, and defining them could be a stumbling block for a potential deal as Russia would likely not agree to the Western powers being obligated to defend Ukraine.
“There is no effective system of European security now, which would be moderated by NATO. As soon as a serious war began in Europe, Nato quickly stepped aside,” Podolyak told Financial Times. “We propose a ‘Ukrainian model of security guarantees,’ which implies the immediate and legally verified participation of a number of guarantor countries in the conflict on the side of Ukraine if someone again encroaches on its territorial integrity.”
Russia also wants Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian and recognize the independence of the breakaway Donbas republics. The Financial Times report said these issues are the “biggest sticking point” in the negotiations.
Podolyak said the issue of the recognition of Crimea and Donbas should be separated from the negotiations for a ceasefire and Russian withdrawal. “Disputed and conflict territories [are] in a separate case. So far, we are talking about a guaranteed withdrawal from the territories that have been occupied since the start of the military operation on February 24,” he said.
Since Russia launched its assault, Ukrainian and Russian delegations have met in person three times in Belarus. This week, the negotiators have been holding daily talks via video link. While the talks are ongoing, Zelensky is still urging the US to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which would mean Washington going to war with Moscow.
At this point, there’s still no sign that the US is pushing for Ukraine and Russia to reach a deal to end the fighting. Instead, President Biden announced on Wednesday more weapons for Ukraine, and the US continues to ratchet up sanctions on Russia.
Sigh… Seriously? Zelensky just completely rejected “neutrality” as I reported earlier.
Top official rejects “neutrality” model for Ukraine without security guarantees
https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-03-16-22/h_5f686c06a3534b6319aabee7863039c5
And how is Ukraine seeking “security guarantees” from the US and EU against Russia any different from joining NATO? Is anyone here seriously stupid enough to think Russia is going to agree to that?
This is just ridiculous. When are you people going to get the picture? Zelensky has NO AGENCY. He is utterly and totally under the control of both the CIA and the neo-Nazis. He can NOT accept Russian demands. All he can is wiggle around and try to draw things out until he gets some sort of NATO involvement – which is precisely what the CIA and the neocons want. The only question is: Will Biden fall for it over the Pentagon’s objections?
Get a clue.
“And how is Ukraine seeking “security guarantees” from the US and EU against Russia any different from joining NATO?”
I wrote my comment before I read this. But my first thoughts too. Seemed kind of obvious.
Indeed. It’s amazing how many people can’t even read an English sentence and see what it means. Then they turn it into what they want it to be rather than it what clearly states, i.e., they are so desperate for some sign that the war will end tomorrow. But it won’t.
And meanwhile Bye-Done is promising more weapons and financial aid.
Well, THAT’S helpful.
Immensely helpful. Oh yeah.
But, he actually could cause a legal problem by signing something. He has agency, had he any integrity.
So he signs something. A Nazi shoots him in the head. The next guy reverses it. This is not what the Russians are looking for. Like Obi Wan: “These are not the negotiations you are looking for.” That’s Zelensky’s approach. 🙂
If there is “progress” in the talks,how come Zelensky is asking for more “help” in the form of weapons, mercenaries, aircraft, no-fly zone???? Could it be he is stalling?
Meanwhile, here is Andrei Martyanov explaining the facts of life to people. Everyone needs to listen to this.
Ukraine and World March 16
Here is the reality of Ukraine…
https://tochka.press/2022/03/16/76680/
Yandex machine translation
The Nazis blew up their headquarters in the Drama Theater of Mariupol, where they were holding hostages
The Nazis from the terrorist battalion “Azov ” (banned in Russia) in
Mariupol blew up their headquarters, which was based in the Mariupol
Drama Theater and what was known. They held civilians hostage in their
headquarters, which was located in the basement of the theater, but on
the first floor of the building. Today, the Mariupol Drama Theater was
blown up, apparently with civilians inside, hostages of Ukrainian
fascists
21: 13, Mariupol, The fact that the main headquarters of the
Ukrainian Nazis from Azov was located in the Drama Theater of Mariupol
and that they are holding civilians there as hostages, it became known
earlier from the captured Nazi of the same terrorist battalion “Azov”.
It was also known in advance that these fascists were preparing a bloody
provocation in the theater with the death of civilians.
Today, apparently during the retreat, as fighting is already going on
in the center of Mariupol, these fascists blew up the theater,
apparently with civilians inside. At the same time, according to the
already proven propaganda technology, they blamed Russia for this.
Allegedly, the Russian Federation dropped a super-powerful aerial bomb
on the theater. Which is impossible, since there are fights going on all
over the area. In any military conflicts, aviation does not work in
those areas where there is a battle with manpower, since such strikes
destroy everything, both their own and others’. No army ever goes for
it, it’s just plain idiocy.
In addition, Russia does not bomb Ukrainian cities with aerial bombs,
which has already been denied dozens of times. There is no need for
Russia to do this. In Mariupol, there is a sweep from terrorists and
fascists, it is not the first day. And if Russia wanted to bomb it, it
wouldn’t have taken so many days of besieging Mariupol and clearing it
of terrorists. But Russia is conducting this complex operation only in
order to save the lives of peaceful residents of Mariupol, who were
taken hostage by these Ukrainian fascists, to which there are hundreds
of testimonies from the residents of Mariupol themselves, who are
breaking out of the city occupied by the Nazis.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that on the afternoon of March 16,
Russian aircraft did not perform any tasks related to striking ground
targets in the city of Mariupol. “According to reliable data, the
militants of the nationalist battalion “Azov” committed a new bloody
provocation, blowing up the theater building they had mined.” “Given the
potential danger to the lives of civilians, and the provocation already
carried out on March 9 with hospital No. 3 in Mariupol, the theater
building in the city center was never considered as a target for
destruction, ” the Defense Ministry said.
A captured Nazi from Azov earlier said that the Nazis were planning
to blow up a theater with people, and also said that 12 armed Nazis were
guarding hostages in the theater’s lobby so that people would not
escape. The headquarters of the Ukrainian fascists was located in the
basement. Eyewitnesses in Mariupol, local residents, confirmed that
earlier in the day, when the forces of the Donbass militia and Chechen
special forces approached, the Azov headquarters left there in an
unknown direction. Then, apparently, they blew up the building to create
a picture for internal Ukrainian fascist propaganda and Western media.
And they do so now all over Ukraine. This is the tactic of the real
fascists, which they are. During the war, the Nazis mined everything
during their retreat, and then blew it up remotely together with
civilians, when the Red Army approached. All this has already been
recorded in the history of 1941-1945.
The Ukrainian fascists created a similar fake with the maternity
hospital of Mariupol, where their headquarters was also located earlier.
After setting off a deliberate explosion there, they also accused
Russia of launching airstrikes on the maternity hospital. And if you
asked what fascism and Nazism are expressed in Ukraine, then this is it!
“Here is what the sources that tell me what I want to hear say is the reality of Ukraine”
Fixed, no charge.
“Pardon me while I run my mouth like a troll with nothing to add.”
Fixed. No charge.
So the non-stop “Western free media”, NEVER allowing one word of response from Russia,and always quoting “Ukrainian sources” with no mention of possible other interpretation, is to continue forever?
I am in France, the EU has stopped all input from Russia, and every article is assuming the wicked Russkies are purposely targeting hospitals, babies,civilians, while in fact all services, electricity, internet etc remain for the civilians who are not in the hands of kidnappers and held hostage as in this theatre.
There are now first hand reports of survivors being pulled out of the bombed theater. They were not Nazi hostages. . We are being deluged with anti-Russian propaganda. But the antidote is not believing pro-Russian propaganda such as the source you linked above. . The evidence is compelling that Russian actions are responsible for a large number of civilian casualties.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/03/17/world/ukraine-russia-war
“We propose a ‘Ukrainian model of security guarantees,’ which implies the immediate and legally verified participation of a number of guarantor countries in the conflict on the side of Ukraine if someone again encroaches on its territorial integrity.”
A smaller NATO. I’m thinking Estonia’s services won’t be needed.
Can Russia possibly be this politically stupid? Withdraw based on worthless Ukrainian “promises” while leaving the territorial issues unsettled?!?
Trust me. They aren’t and they won’t. And this is what scares me like Knapp – that Russia isn’t going to screw this up.
NO!!!They will not.
They could sit down and talk about these issues as the Putin wanted to do,but American arrogance wiukdn aggread to that,now after so many dead and distractions,Ukrainian President aggread to it.
Who has blood in his hands?
Biden had a golden opportunity to be the peacemaker, the hero last December. He has chosen the Truman “let them kill each other”, which was Truman’s reaction concerning the news about the level of combat between the Germans and the Russians during WWII. The cold blooded S.O.B. let two civilian targets be vaporized (along with American POWs), when he knew full well the Japanese and the administration were negotiating an end to the war for a year.
Time to seek out the movie,”The bomb”, again.
Well, does Biden and the Globalists want the war to end this quickly, or would they like for it to drag on for months?
I swear I was thinking the same thing…
The bad thing for Biden is this: there will come a time when more of American taxpayers will see the light, particularly when bread is $10 a loaf come June, and gas is the same price per gallon for regular.
Not really. As soon as the “Biden” regime promised, not a WW3, but more army surplus material, cannon fodder merc’s (to be bombed to death like the over 200 newly arrived fascists from all over the world just across the Polish border the other day) and ordered zelensky to release more criminals and hand out guns & ammo willy nilly, the ukranian coke addict in chief walked back everything “he” potentially was prepared to agree to.
Same stunt as in every “negotiation” so far. Heck, they even shot dead one of the negotiators for being too soft. That’s the US imposed Ukie Nazi regime for you…
Thanks for bringing up the release of criminals to fight. How do they get them back into prison??? My guess is some have already high tailed it.
Russia has said from the start that NATO must not be allowed in Ukraine. My first thought was that Russia is no more inclined to have a standing army armed with nuclear missiles on its border than the US was having Cuba armed with nuclear missiles.
But it suddenly dawned on me that Zelensky wants to join NATO so badly because he plans to attack Crimea and Donbass (Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Decree no. 117/2021).
As a member of NATO, he might be able to do so with impunity. He could send an army into Crimea claiming it’s a civil war, then hide behind NATO’s apron if Russia fought back.
When the Euromaidan Coup overturned the democratically elected government of Ukraine, Crimea and Donbass seceded. The ethnic Russian population of Ukraine is concentrated in those regions, and they had good reason to fear the new government in Kyiv. Zelensky wants them back, and our own State Department has sold the idea that they did not leave of their own accord.
What I cannot comprehend is WHY he wants them back. But I have my suspicions. According to the US Energy Information Administration, “The Dnieper-Donetsk region accounts for 90% of natural gas production (in Ukraine).” In Crimea, the issues might include closing Sevastopol and controlling the deep water leases surrounding the Crimean Peninsula.
Putin and Lavrov are stupid beyond belief. Ukraine violated the Minsk agreements for 8 years because it was ordered by NATO and the US. The dame thing will happen now if an agreement is reached. Russia needs to pound Ukraine into submission and dictate terms. That’s how you conduct a war.
Well Michael that’s one way of looking at it!
That’s what the Soviets did to the Nazis, that’s what the north did to the south in the “civil war”, etc. If you know of another way to win a war please tell me.
This is still not serious. Zelenski is executing US negotiation strategy. From the lack of seriousness one can conclude that US believes that Russia is not achieving its goals, and that it will get “more resonable”.
Assuming Russia is in a hurry to get out of Ukraine.
It is a mistake to believe that Russia will leave and than trust that the goals of demilitarization and denazification will be implemented by Zelenski.
Few things I am assuming based on an unprejudiced and usually well informed M. Bhadrakumar. Focus so far was a positioning of forces that insured the lack of connectivity of Ukranian forces, and encirclement of majority Russian and Christian Ortodox populated towns. Mariupol is the best example. Manority Russian polulation “defended” by Azov brigades! Populatiom is considered treasonous. The massacre of Russian people in the theater has been commited by Aziov, ss a warning to others .
Russia has already destroyed the suburban defenses and had spreas specumislb forced, Russia will not tunn this town again to Ukraine, The question is — will it proceed to connect north-south bypassing Kiev, and separate Galicija from Ukraine -/ the only way to
have Kyev be ruled by the majority populace, not the minority — the place West always undermined Ukaine.
De-Nazifikation will not suceed should current country structure is in place and government temains in place.
Discussion of status is helpful —but the territorial issues will be discussed only after capitulatiom. It means that from the lull Russia needs to go to victory lap,
“It is a mistake to believe that Russia will leave and than trust that the goals of demilitarization and denazification will be implemented by Zelenski.”
It is a mistake to believe that the goals of demilitarization and denazification will be implemented, period. They’re unlikely to be agreed to, and it’s even more unlikely that such an agreement would be followed.
The most Putin is going to get out of this is LPR, DPR, and a land corridor to Crimea.
Presumably everything else was just put on the table to be bargained away. The alternative to that is that Putin is an idiot, and I don’t think he is.
Then again, what he’s getting in addition to LPR, DPR, and a land corridor to Crimea is a more militarized EU and Ukraine as a de facto NATO member. Which may or may not be a good trade, depending on whether he can pull off a large Asian economic realignment away from the dollar as part of the bargain.
Good points. It will be hard to accept that after all is said and done, cities such ss Mariupol will be left to the tender mercies of Azov brigade which has been since 2014 headquartered there.
The name comes from their pride in taking Mariupol from Donetsk region and kept this Azov sea port.
The problem is — population is almost entirely Russian. During the best of times there was oppresion and discrimination by the Kiev imposed mayor and all key city positions.
When war started, executions started for treason. The much talked about bombing of theater /shelter, was Azov brigade attrocity — as now they are loosing control.
Azov did not allow population to leave, accusing Russia of targetting them. And why are prople now leaving? It is because Russia has destroyed Azov positions in suburbs, opening many corridors of escape.
Russian special ops have entered the city. Information is scarce as Russia is tight lipped, and our media just speculate.
Only few analyst have sources that give them insight. One of them is former Indian diplomat M. Bhadrakumar.
The saga of Mariupol is a symbol if a larger Ukrainian problem. Ever since 2014 the religious tensions always simmering below the surface — were let loose.
I do not see how can Zelenski survive this — his performanes are remarkable to foreign parliaments, but from the perspective of those extremists that are now dying, he is to blame for the war. Those Galician Catholics did not mind trashing Russians around for the last 8 years — but never thought having to actually fight Russia. Zelenski is more in danger of those “defenders” of Kyev than Russians.
Ukraine is a complicated and divided country. Probably unsustainable as nobody is invested in unity.
De-Nazification is not an abstract issue, as Mariupol illustrates. Ukraine can be federalized and that would eliminate one region exerting such power, but then how can such legislation pass when all security mechanisms are in the hands of this minority?
I have no idea what can realistically be done, but something will be.
Negotiations are still
not at a serious phase.
I wondered why would Ukraine be so disinterested in talking substance. Perhaps they take seriously the stories of inadequacy of Russian operations.
But this is FAR from over. Let me see just how wrong I am.
I predict that this war will not end with Russia getting some territory, and Ukraine leadership, including security apparatus intact — free to pursue yet another Cuban crisis.
That’s probably good enough.
Saint Ze has shown his exceptional acting skills and video presentations as he brought to tears the US Congress and the German parliament as well. Mother Teresa in the 21st century, ready to ensure every child will star in real time movies of heroic saviors of a Great Power led by Ze himself.
From The Saker… tl;dr Negotiations are going nowhere…
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with RBC TV channel, Moscow, March 16, 2022
https://thesaker.is/foreign-minister-sergey-lavrovs-interview-with-rbc-tv-channel-moscow-march-16-2022/
This next is a valid response to all those “anti-war” people who continue to blame Russia for the war…
This part is for those who don’t understand that Ukrainian neutrality is not enough for Russia or who think Russia will forego “de-Nazification.”
And this part is about the US responsibility for this situation…
Read the whole thing. Well worth it.