Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyy said on Sunday that it would be possible for his country to adopt an official “non-nuclear” status as part of an agreement to end the war with Russia.
In an interview with Russian media, Zelenskyyy revealed that “peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are continuing, and described the country’s non-nuclear status as the “most important issue” on the agenda.
The Ukrainian president also expressed his country’s readiness to be a nuclear-weapon-free state, as the most important point in the Ukrainian-Russian talks.
Zelenskyyy indicated that he was interested in signing a “serious agreement” that would include security guarantees for Ukraine, signed by all guarantors.
Ukraine has not had nuclear weapons since 1996 after it agreed to give up its Soviet nuclear arsenal on the condition that its borders be respected under the Budapest Memorandum, which was signed by the United States, United Kingdom and Russia.
However, Moscow may seek assurances that nuclear weapons will not be deployed in Ukraine in the future, for example by NATO.
Hours ago, the Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor warned the opposition media against publishing a recent interview with President Zelenskyyy.
Roskomnadzor warns the Russian media about the necessity of refraining from publishing this interview, as reported by Reuters .
On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine , which was followed by angry international reactions and the imposition of “tough” economic and financial sanctions on Moscow.
To end the operation, Russia requires Ukraine to abandon any plans to join military entities, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and to adhere to complete neutrality, which Kyiv considers an “interference in its sovereignty.”
