Ukrainian presidential office head Kyrylo Budanov announced that Russia has agreed to the security guarantees proposed by the United States during recent negotiations. He noted significant progress regarding the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
In a press briefing, Budanov stated that the Russian negotiation team acknowledged their acceptance of the US security guarantees for Ukraine. He emphasized that this development marks a crucial step forward in the discussions.
“Regarding security guarantees, during the last negotiations, the Russian side explicitly stated that they would accept the guarantees offered by the United States. They have indicated that they will have to respect these guarantees for Ukraine,” Budanov said.
Budanov also addressed the issue of monitoring the ceasefire and the control of the demilitarized zone, indicating that this responsibility lies with the military subgroup of the Ukrainian negotiating team. He expressed optimism about the advancements made in this area of the peace talks.
“We have essentially concluded how this monitoring will function once the war ends. There are no significant issues remaining in this regard, as all matters have been resolved over the course of several meetings,” he added.
However, he acknowledged that discussions concerning territorial disputes are still ongoing, with all parties searching for a compromise.
“We have not yet reached a final agreement. I hope we will find one soon. Time is not on our side. Ultimately, we will have to acknowledge whether we have found a solution to end this war or if we will continue to bear the responsibility for ongoing violence,” Budanov stated.
The latest round of trilateral talks involving Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 26. The discussions focused on economic support mechanisms and long-term strategies for Ukraine.
On February 28, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had updated directives for the Ukrainian delegation regarding future negotiations with the US and Russia concerning potential parameters for ending the conflict.
Kyrylo Budanov announced that Russia has accepted US security guarantees for Ukraine, marking progress in ongoing negotiations. While advancements have been made in establishing a demilitarized zone, discussions on territorial issues continue.