Reuters: Ukraine willing to be neutral, says Russia wants to split nation

[WarGamer]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/rockets-strike-ukraines-lviv-biden-says-putin-cannot-remain-power-2022-03-27/


LVIV, Ukraine, March 27 (Reuters) - Ukraine is prepared to discuss adopting a neutral status as part of a peace deal with Russia but such a pact would have to be guaranteed by third parties and put to a referendum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in remarks aired on Sunday.

Zelenskiy was speaking to Russian journalists in a 90 minute video call, an interview that Moscow authorities had pre-emptively warned Russian media to refrain from reporting. Zelenskiy spoke in Russian throughout, as he has done in previous speeches when targeting a Russian audience.

Zelenskiy said Russia's invasion had caused the destruction of Russian-speaking cities in Ukraine, with damage worse than the Russian wars in Chechnya.

[WarGamer]

3. read the link

Zelenskyy says Ukraine is willing to assume a neutral status politically... and he says Ukraine will not try to take back Russian occupied territory.

[WarGamer]

5. I'm surprised by the commitment NOT to retake Russian occupied areas.

[Alhena]

10. Me too- I don't think that would be approved in a referendum

the Ukrainians I've seen on Twitter have been adamant about not giving up any territory.

[WarGamer]

11. I think the referendum would be for "neutral status" like Switzerland.

[WarGamer]

2. And: Zelenskyy says He ruled out trying to recapture all Russian-held territory by force...

[HUAJIAO]

6. I hope he doesn't agree to split up Ukraine. Like N and S Korea.

[WarGamer]

8. If he refuses to use force to retake the areas... it's de facto surrender of the land

[HUAJIAO]

12. exactly

[Igel]

26. I put it in the same bin as "not joining NATO."

Was it a decision or acceptance of what others will allow?

Same for this. Ukraine lacks the offensive weapons necessary to retake that territory.

Those offensive weapons would also allow a much more robust defense. But nobody wants to annoy Putin--they let him set the terms of the conflict, to a large extent. It's a sucky precedent to set--let the aggressor determine the terms.

Without the offensive weapons, one must merely accept that all the bluster about "territorial integrity" was just that--bluster. Playing to the outraged public on the one hand, playing the outraged public on the other.

As Macron said today, the "collective" goal is just to "stop the war." Not win. Just "stop."

[herding cats]

7. At a glance, it sounds like a dirty deal might be in the making?

There's going to be no ideal end to this travesty. A dirty deal is the most likely outcome and this seems like a nod toward one, perhaps?

Or am I reading it wrong?

[WarGamer]

9. that's how I read it.

Zelenskyy seeking "compromise" re: Donbas region?

[HUAJIAO]

13. I trust him but..... please don't.

[bluewater]

14. I doubt Putin will settle for the status quo prior to the invasion.

He wants to seize a significant amount more territory.

And probably will demand that his "annexation" of Crimea be recognized too.

[Crunchy Frog]

16. I don't think that they're realistically going to take back Donbas or Crimea.

They haven't exercised sovereignty over those areas for 8 years, but they remain a completely viable state without them.

Sometimes the best option is to cut your losses.

As far as "neutrality", I'm pretty sure that it won't be without an ironclad security guarantee from the West, unlike the deal they made in the 90's to give up their nukes.

It's probably preferable to watching the entire country slowly get annihilated.

[Javaman]

15. Putin will be back

This is a fools agreement

[Qutzupalotl]

19. Whatever happens, sanctions need to stay in place

until Russia pays to rebuild Ukraine. Every brick.

I could see returning them to SWIFT just to be able to complete transactions, but that's it. Russia is looking at a possible default if it cannot come up with $2.9B US dollars by April 4. Kinda tricky without SWIFT.

We don't need to bankrupt Russia. We just need to see Putin brought to justice.

[former9thward]

23. Russia's biggest bank was never removed from SWIFT

Sberbank (SBER.MM), Russia's largest lender, and Gazprombank were not included because they are the main channels for payments for Russian oil and gas, which EU countries are still buying despite the conflict in Ukraine.

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/eu-excludes-seven-russian-banks-swift-official-journal-2022-03-02/

[WarGamer]

24. yup...

[LiberalFighter]

20. The only solution is for all land grab taken back.

Putin cannot be trusted. He will strike again and take more.

[Dawson Leery]

22. Russia should be destroyed for what they have done, not Ukraine.

[ColinC]

25. It isn't a great deal in itself. The neutral status should make it a no-go

[SoonerPride]

27. Appeasement is not the answer.

Russia withdraws and then Ukraine joins NATO to make sure they never come back.

Without that assurance then Russia will invade again.