Ukraine Security Guarantees... Russia: "Impossible Without Us"

A Difference in Tone from Trump's Announcement

U.S. and Europe Begin Security Guarantee Talks

Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, warned on the 20th (local time) that discussing security guarantees for Ukraine without Russia's participation would yield no results. This reflects a difference in stance from the U.S. opinion that Russia has agreed to Western security guarantees for Ukraine.

Lavrov stated, "Seriously discussing (Ukraine's) security guarantees without Russia is utopian and a meaningless path." He added, "We cannot accept proposals to resolve collective security issues without Russia."

His remarks differ from the comment made by U.S. President Donald Trump at the Alaska summit on the 15th, where Trump mentioned that Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, had agreed to Western security guarantees for Ukraine.

On the 18th, President Trump conveyed these points in a meeting with the leaders of Ukraine and Europe at the White House. The U.S., Europe, and Ukraine formed a tripartite committee to begin discussions to develop Ukraine's security guarantee plan.

Lavrov said, "We will only accept security guarantees for Ukraine provided on an equal basis involving countries such as China, the U.S., the U.K., and France." This is a demand that Russia and China join the discussions, an offer difficult for Europe and Ukraine to accept.

Even if a European-led security guarantee plan is created, Russia may exercise its veto. The U.S. political outlet Politico reported that Lavrov's comments indicate Russia's hardline stance on Ukraine has not softened at all.

Reporter Juwan Kim kjwan@hankyung.com