Russia Open to Discussions on Ukraine, but Insists on Addressing Security Concerns and Military Neutrality

On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced that Moscow is open to engaging in discussions on significant proposals to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. However, she emphasized that any resolution must be based on the current reality and address Russia’s security concerns. During a press briefing, Zakharova stated that Ukraine must commit to being a militarily neutral nation moving forward.

Zakharova also made it clear that Russia will not attend the upcoming conference on Ukraine in Switzerland, set to take place in June, or any other peace-related events initiated by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. She clarified that Switzerland lacks the authority to host such discussions and Russia will not participate in any peace talks organized by Zelensky.