Lavrov proposes U.N. Security Council guarantee for Ukraine, dismisses NATO membership

Russia has proposed that members of the United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., China, and Russia, act as security guarantors for Ukraine, ensuring its neutrality and non-nuclear status, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview on 24 August.

Lavrov’s comments were made during an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” where he discussed the ongoing security concerns between Russia and Ukraine.

He reiterated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position that Ukraine must remain neutral, not pursue NATO membership, and cede control over the eastern Donbas region.

Lavrov added that these discussions had been part of the now-stalled negotiations that took place in Istanbul in 2022.

During those talks in March, Ukraine proposed its permanent neutrality in exchange for security guarantees from major powers, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, the U.S., China, the UK, and France), with the potential inclusion of Germany and Türkiye.

The Istanbul negotiations were one of the first attempts to find a diplomatic solution after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Lavrov argued that these powers should guarantee Ukraine’s security, with an emphasis on Ukraine being non-aligned with any military bloc.

Lavrov made it clear that Russia would never accept Ukraine’s NATO membership, which he said posed a direct threat to Russian security. He also highlighted the issue of protecting Russian speakers in Ukraine, as well as a need for territorial discussions.

Putin has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine renounce its ambitions to join NATO and accept Russia's territorial claims over Donbas and Crimea. He has also stated that Ukraine must maintain neutrality, meaning it should not align with any military bloc such as NATO.

The remarks underscore the persistent tensions between the two countries, despite earlier efforts for negotiation.

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