Russia wants a veto on security guarantees for Ukraine

In line with Russia’s previous demands, Foreign Minister Lavrov demanded that Russia shall have a veto on NATO’s security guarantees and other auspport for Ukraine.

Russia was opposing NATO’s expansion into Ukraine, a major reason for the outbreak of the military conflict.

Now, with European offering NATO Treaty art. 5 similar security guarantees and even troops on the ground, it is easy to tell that this all is equivalent to Ukraine’s NATO membership. Russia has an interest to veto and oppose.

In today’s situation, there is no reason to be clever and to try to introduce wordings and misunderstandings into negotiations.

What are security guarantees? In the minds of Europe, these are measures, preparations and comittments to prevent a new military conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine’s NATO partners basically promise to intervene on the side of Ukraine in case of a new conflict, independent of the fact who provoked it or for what reason, justification etc it may happen.

A blind man can see that this kind of excessive and clever fabrication of security guarantees are becoming a major risk for Russia.