Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told media on Friday that Ukraine wants peace and is ready for negotiations with Russia, including on NATO neutrality.
“If possible, discussions should be held. We are not concerned if Moscow says it wants to hold negotiations, including on neutral status “he wrote in a text message “That’s something we can discuss as well.”
“Part of our unwavering commitment to peace is our willingness to engage in discourse.”
Ukraine is currently not a member of NATO or the European Union, despite its desire to do so, which is anathema to its former master, Russia.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees from European countries.
Following the overthrow of a pro-Russian Ukrainian president in 2014, Moscow annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Kyiv and backed insurgents fighting government soldiers in the country’s east.
