No Security And Weapons Guarantee Requested, Ukraine Is Not Ready To Negotiate With Russia

Andriy Yermak. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidentt.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukraine is not yet ready to negotiate with Russia, highlighting the possible return of Moscow troops in the future, after the war is currently being finalized through negotiations, a senior Kyiv official said.

Ukraine's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak told public broadcaster Suspilne late Thursday that the unpreparedness was because they did not yet have the weapons, security guarantees and international status they wanted.

"Not yet," Yermak told Suspilne, when asked if Ukraine was ready to start negotiations.

"We don't have weapons, we don't have the status we're talking about. And that means an invitation to NATO and an understanding of the clear guarantees that will be given to us, so we can be sure that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin won't be back in two or three years," Yermak explained.

Yermak's comments came as President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly considered a possible settlement of the war negotiated with Russia that broke out in February 2022.

This week, President Zelensky said Ukraine wants an end to war, efforts are needed to make its country stronger and require the Kremlin to seek peace.

In a recent public statement, the president also said talks could be held with Russia still defending the territory it captured in the invasion.

It is known that Russia annexed Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia after holding a criticized referendum. The announcement of the annexation was made directly by President Vladimir Putin.

However, President Zelensky continued, Ukraine needs an invitation issued to the entire country to join NATO, although the Alliance's status will apply to territory controlled by the Kyiv authorities and real security guarantees must be imposed.

While in Paris last week, US President Zelensky met with US President-elect Donald Trump, who said, without providing details, he wanted the war to end soon.

Russia itself has long rejected the idea of Ukraine becoming a NATO member, with President Putin saying Kyiv should accept Kremlin annexation of four Ukrainian territories it only partially controls.