Ukraine and the United States have reached a mutual understanding of the necessity to preserve the sovereignty of the Ukrainian state within the framework of potential peace agreements with Russia. This was reported by Ukraine’s Ambassador to NATO, Alona Hetmanchuk, during a conversation with journalists in Brussels.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Sovereignty and the Right to Choose Alliances
The diplomat emphasized that a key issue in the negotiations remains defining how the concept of “preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty” will be implemented in practice. Alona Hetmanchuk specifically highlighted that an integral component of sovereignty is Ukraine’s right to independently choose its future, including joining international alliances, which pertains to its aspirations for NATO membership.
“Ukraine’s ability and right to choose its future, including the alliances it wishes to join, is also an integral part of sovereignty. How can a country be sovereign if it does not have the right to choose its future, to choose the alliances and organizations it aspires to join in the future?” – noted Hetmanchuk.
At the same time, according to the ambassador, the main task for Ukraine, the USA, and European partners is to find a common vision to prevent new aggression from Russia. The Armed Forces of Ukraine and its own defense-industrial complex must remain at the center of potential security guarantees for Ukraine. However, the parties diverge in their positions on other aspects of security guarantees.
Negotiations on Security Guarantees and Euro-Atlantic Integration
Hetmanchuk stressed that the majority of society in Ukraine continues to support NATO membership as the most reliable security guarantee, although this issue is perceived ambiguously among Western partners.
Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the Ukrainian delegation provided detailed information about the outcomes of meetings in the USA, where security issues were discussed, including the possibility of protection against Russian attacks in the event of a ceasefire.
According to information from The Wall Street Journal, discussions during negotiations in Florida included future elections in Ukraine, territorial issues, and security guarantees. The talks lasted over four hours.
Sources from CNN reported that one of the most challenging points in the initial US peace proposal was the requirement for Ukraine to officially renounce its aspiration for NATO membership. A compromise option is currently being considered, whereby Kyiv would not formally, but effectively, be unable to join the North Atlantic Alliance.
The initial proposal from the United States consisted of 28 points and raised concerns among the Ukrainian authorities and allies. After consultations with American officials, including the US Secretary of State, the parties created a new plan with 19 points, which leaves open questions such as the future of part of Donbas, Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO, and possible limitations on the size of the country’s armed forces.