According to Taylor, after the Russian crimes in Bucha, talks about Ukrainian neutrality lost all meaning.
Ukraine offered a clear idea in negotiations with Russia, which implies that Kyiv will remain neutral and will not join NATO. However, he needs security guarantees. And not like at the time of the Budapest Memorandum.
During the discussion of this issue at the Atlantic Council, former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor noted that the proposed model is very similar to that implemented in Austria . The country has a strong army and has joined the EU, but remains outside NATO.
However, Taylor doubts that this proposal is still on the table. Because Kyiv put it forward three weeks ago, before the massacre of civilians in Bucha became known.
“I doubt that such talks can continue if the Russians do what they do. If, according to President Biden, they staged a genocide in Ukraine. Is it possible to talk to them at all then? ” – said the American diplomat.
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At the same time, Taylor noted that the atrocities of Russians in Bucha and other cities of Ukraine have led to increased public loyalty in the United States to Ukrainians.
. Ukrainians have already been burned by this. They will require clear guarantees, similar to Article 5 on NATO's common defense. They will want an agreement that says that in the event of an attack, the United States or other countries will come to the rescue. That is, they will send an army. If there is such a request, the United States must consider it, “Taylor said.
According to him, support is growing in the United States to provide such security guarantees to Ukraine.
“But if this support is growing, then perhaps we should return to the idea of Ukraine's accession to NATO? Maybe talking about neutrality doesn't matter anymore, “the former US ambassador to Ukraine added.
In turn, the director of security programs of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” Anna Shelest believes that all the proposed guarantees for Ukraine do not really expand, but only reduce Ukrainian security.
“First we must say that is included guarantees. Weapons supply? We already get it. Establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukraine? Everyone is well aware that this decision will be made at the level of individual countries. So what exactly are the guarantees. And then it will be possible to speak objectively. Also, let's look at the list of who will be the real guarantor. I'm sorry, but I don't believe in the guarantees of Israel, France or China, “she said.
“Have you seen a neutral country that would coordinate exercises on its territory with the guarantor countries? And now this is what they are proposing to do within the framework of these security guarantees. In fact, all these real proposals only reduce, not increase, Ukraine's defense, “Shelest said. neutral status , if it comes to negotiations at the highest level. At the same time, he said, it is important that our country, instead, demands security guarantees from its neighbors, including Russia, so that the current situation never happens again, and so that no more agreements are violated, as happened with the Budapest Memorandum.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he no longer intends to make every effort to secure Ukraine's accession to NATO, as he currently sees no prospects in this due to the Alliance's disregard for our country.
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