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Head of the Ukrainian Negotiating Group: Negotiations on security with China are underway, but progress has been limited

author:Observer.com

Since the end of March, david Allahamia, head of the Ukrainian delegation to russia-Ukraine negotiations and chairman of the parliamentary caucus of Ukraine's ruling People's Servant Party, once again revealed on April 3 that Ukraine is negotiating with many countries on security guarantees, including China. But he admitted that negotiations with the Chinese side have made more limited progress.

On the 3rd local time, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy said that Ukraine, including the United States, has not yet received security from anyone. CNN reported on the 1st that a number of people familiar with the matter revealed that the United States and its allies are unlikely to provide Ukraine with the legally binding security guarantees it requires.

Head of the Ukrainian Negotiating Group: Negotiations on security with China are underway, but progress has been limited

Interfax Ukraine: Arahmia believes that the United States and the United Kingdom will eventually become Ukraine's security states

According to Ukraine's Interfax news agency reported on April 3, Arahamia said in an interview that he believes the United States and the United Kingdom will eventually agree to serve as Ukraine's security guarantors. "I have a feeling that when I see that everyone is no longer opposed, the United States and the United Kingdom will finally join together." He also stressed that Turkey has "the largest NATO army in Europe" and that it is "very important" to receive Turkish security guarantees.

According to Arahamiya, Ukraine is also negotiating with China through diplomatic channels. He noted that there has been less progress with China than other countries.

"The state of the negotiations with China may not be ready compared to other countries. We maintain contact with other countries twice a day, but it is more difficult with China. I think China will eventually join. ”

But he also quoted a previous statement from China as saying it "uses diplomatic language to say they are not opposed."

On March 3, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on the issue of security assurances that according to their respective national statements and UN Security Council Resolution 984 and other documents, nuclear-weapon states have provided security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon states such as Ukraine. This security guarantee has clear content qualifications and trigger conditions. On the Ukraine issue, it is imperative that all parties concerned remain calm and restrained, de-escalate the situation and promote a political settlement.

Earlier, on the evening of March 21, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that he called on China to contribute to a "political settlement of the war in Ukraine." "On the need to find a political solution to the war in Ukraine, we agree with China's position and call on China, as a global power, to play an important role in this effort." Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, also said on March 22 that Ukraine "has great respect" for China and wants it to play a "more prominent role" in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Head of the Ukrainian Negotiating Group: Negotiations on security with China are underway, but progress has been limited

On March 29, 2022, local time, Istanbul, Turkey, Alahamia at the fifth round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations. The picture is from the surging image

Recently, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy said ukraine was willing to discuss becoming a neutral country, but at the same time demanded "security guarantees." In the fifth round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on March 29, Ukraine submitted a detailed proposal for neutrality to Russia, and Arahamiya explicitly proposed that neutrality and non-nuclear status be exchanged for security guarantees, and called for the establishment of a new security system for Ukraine.

Ukraine considers the countries of the United Nations Security Council, as well as Turkey, Germany, Canada, Italy, Poland and Israel, as its security guarantors.

"This is what we call the Ukrainian version of NATO," Arahamia said in an interview, according to the Wall Street Journal, "so we gain neutrality, but our idea is to gain a strengthened neutrality." ”

In this regard, CNN reported on the 1st that a number of people familiar with the matter revealed that the United States and its allies have been weighing how the West will provide security guarantees to Ukraine if Ukraine abandons joining NATO. The U.S. and its allies are ultimately unlikely to provide Ukraine with the legally binding protection it demands, the people said also said.

Kate Bedingfield, director of the White House Communications Office, said on March 30 that Washington was engaged in "ongoing discussions" with Ukraine on how to uphold Ukraine's "sovereignty and security." But she also said she couldn't share any specific information at the moment.

The German side appeared to be positive, saying it was willing to provide Ukraine with some form of security guarantee, but did not mention the specific content of the guarantee.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock told the German Public Broadcasting Union on March 30: "If [Ukraine] needs protection, then Germany will do it." She also said Kiev could rely on German support. Berberk said Berlin was "one hundred percent" "united" with Ukraine. German Chancellor Schoerz told Ukrainian President Zelenskiy on the same day that Berlin was "generally willing" to provide security guarantees.

However, Scholz spokesman Steffen Hebestreit denied that it was too early to discuss the promises. A senior German government official has since clarified that the discussions are currently in the early stages. Ukraine's proposal has not yet been concretized and will only work with Russian involvement.

British Deputy Prime Minister Dominique Raab has also expressed skepticism about the proposal to provide security guarantees to non-NATO members. "We'll think about anything Zelenskiy says he needs," Raab told the BBC, "but I don't think we're going to unilaterally copy the NATO commitments that apply to NATO members.""

According to the Wall Street Journal, a person familiar with the matter revealed that France is willing to support some form of neutrality in Ukraine, and Ukraine's security will be guaranteed by multiple countries.

However, the person also said that France is reluctant to sign a security guarantee agreement that contains a clause similar to NATO's fifth collective defense clause. Much also depends on the details of Ukraine's neutrality, including the status of its national army, the person added.

Israel is also one of the countries ukraine has asked for security guarantees, but the Wall Street Journal said it was unlikely that Israel would support the proposal.

"At this point, Israel cannot provide security for Ukraine," a senior Israeli official said. "We are ready to assist in reaching an agreement through confidence-building measures and other efforts".

It is unclear whether the Kremlin will accept Kiev's offer. "No one is saying that the two sides have made progress," Kremlin spokesman Peskov said of the talks, declining to discuss specific proposals. "We can't point out anything particularly promising."

This article is an exclusive manuscript of the Observer Network and may not be reproduced without authorization.

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