Can we reach an acceptable “Ukraine neutralization”?
Go to gallery page
(Xiao Tianyao 1: International Politics Scholar)
In Ukraine, ceasefire negotiations continue, but fighting continues during that time, and the number of refugees has exceeded 3 million. The United States, Europe, Japan and others are tightening economic sanctions on Russia, but Putin will not easily compromise until he achieves the purpose of the war. NATO cannot intervene in Ukraine, which is not a member country, and can only provide weapons assistance.
However, the United States provided Ukraine with a large amount of anti-tank weapon “Javelin” and portable air defense missile “Stinger”. This has helped the Ukrainian army resist. It is said that this is the reason why the invasion speed of the Russian army is delayed.
Where the ceasefire negotiations fall
Private facilities have also been the target of attacks, and civilians have been seriously sacrificed. Getting to a ceasefire as soon as possible is a top priority, but there is some progress in the ceasefire negotiations. If a compromise between the two is reached, what is the point of failure?
The Ukrainian side is demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops, and the Russian side is calling for the demilitarization, neutralization and denazification of Ukraine. Putin’s “special military operations” are aimed at restricting Ukraine from joining NATO in writing, not deploying NATO offensive weapons in Ukraine, and the resignation of the Zelensky administration.
The two claims are in direct conflict, but a possible concession is that Ukraine would be acceptable if it stated that it would not join NATO as long as the conflict continued in the two eastern states. We can also promise not to deploy western weapons such as missiles. Furthermore, it is possible to advance the “neutralization” of Ukraine on the premise of security by the United States, the United Kingdom and Turkey, and the inviolability of borders. The question is whether Russia will accept this, and there will be opposition to how it differs from NATO.
Ukraine has shown a willingness to consider Russia’s request for neutralization, but says it will not accept Swedish or Austrian neutralization. Both countries have their own troops but are not members of a military alliance. Sweden remained neutral in World War I and World War II and continues to this day. Austria was annexed to Nazi Germany in 1938, but became independent in 1955 following the war and stipulated its eternal neutrality in the Constitution.
It is unclear what kind of “neutralization” Ukraine is seeking, but the question is whether Russia can offer neutrality in a way that it accepts.
