Ukraine understands the partners' attempts to remain proactive in the negotiation process. An information about the Swedish and Austrian model of neutrality comes from here.
However, the country now is in a state of direct war with Russia, so the model can only be Ukrainian and only with legally verified security guarantees.
Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the presidential office and a member of the negotiating group with Russia, said this in a comment to journalists.
"Firstly, absolute security guarantees. Effective ones, not protocol ones or Budapest ones. And this means that the signatory parties to the guarantees do not stand by in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today. And actively participate on the side of Ukraine in the conflict and officially ensure the immediate supply of weapons we need," - he said.
Secondly, Ukraine no longer wants to depend on bureaucracy to allow or not to allow the sky to be closed. Therefore, the state needs direct and firm assurances that the skies will definitely be closed.
Mikhail Podolyak added that Ukraine has never been a militaristic state that attacked or planned to attack its neighbors. Therefore, Ukraine wants a pool of allies with clear security guarantees.
Representatives of the occupying country are spreading information that the Swedish and Austrian models of neutrality are allegedly being discussed at the talks as a compromise.
Austria has a status of permanent neutrality and is not part of NATO. Sweden is also not part of the Alliance and declined to apply for membership in February 2022.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukraine has been made clear that it is impossible for it to join the bloc. And the Ukrainian people are beginning to understand this as well.