The model of Ukraine's neutrality can only be Ukrainian, said Mikhail Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Presidential Office.
So he commented on the words of the head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky that Ukraine allegedly offered "Austrian" or "Swedish" variants of its neutrality.
"Of course, we understand the attempt of our partners to remain a proactive party in the negotiation process. Hence the words about the Swedish or Austrian model of neutrality. But Ukraine is now in a state of direct war with Russia. Therefore, the model can only be "Ukrainian" and only about legally verified "security guarantees". And no other models or options," Podolyak said in a commentary to Interfax-Ukraine.
According to him, this means that Ukraine needs absolute security guarantees.
"Effective ones, not protocol ones or Budapest ones. And this means that the signatories of the guarantees do not stand on the sidelines in the event of an attack on Ukraine as today. But take an active part on the side of Ukraine in the conflict and formally ensure that we are immediately supplied with the necessary amount of weapons," he said.
"And second, Ukraine no longer wants to depend on bureaucratic procedures that allow or do not allow the same cruise missiles to close the sky. We need direct and firm guarantees that the sky will definitely be closed," Podolyak added.
As the advisor to the head of the Office of the President noted, Ukraine has never been a militaristic state that has attacked or is planning to attack its neighbors.
"Unlike those very neighbors. That is why today Ukraine wants to have a really powerful pool of allies with clearly spelled out security guarantees...," he summarized.