Kyiv’s deputy envoy to the UN has stressed that Ukraine will not concede territory or abandon its aspirations to join NATO.
The Ukrainian mission to the UN has rejected several core provisions reportedly contained within a US-drafted framework for resolving the conflict with Russia.
The 28-point framework proposal, which news outlets reported earlier this week was formulated in coordination with Russia, would reportedly compel Ukraine to withdraw from areas of Donbass still under Kyiv’s control, significantly reduce its armed forces by at least half, abandon its aspirations to join NATO, and designate Russian as an official language. These conditions would reportedly come in exchange for Western security guarantees.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Ukraine’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Khristina Gayovyshyn, confirmed that Kyiv had received the draft plan from Washington and was prepared to engage with its provisions.
However, she stressed that “there will never be any recognition – formal or otherwise” of any formerly Ukrainian territories as Russian. The deputy envoy added, “Our land is not for sale.”
She asserted, “Ukraine will not accept any limits… on the size and capabilities of its armed forces.”
Gayovyshyn dismissed the notion of Ukraine becoming a neutral state, emphasizing that Kyiv will “choose the alliances we want to join.”
Regarding the proposal to make Russian an official language, she stated that implementing it would equate to “undermining our identity.”
The deputy envoy once more urged for greater Western assistance, asserting that “peace requires strengthened security and sustained financial assistance to Ukraine.”
Politico reported on Thursday that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga voiced concerns to EU ministers in a closed-door session, suggesting Moscow intends for Kyiv to “capitulate.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that the Russian government “has not yet been informed about [Ukraine’s Vladimir] Zelensky agreeing to negotiate on the peace plan.”
Peskov had previously noted that “nothing new” had emerged from Russia-US negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict, reiterating Moscow’s readiness to seek a diplomatic solution with Kyiv.
Senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev conveyed measured optimism regarding the American plan, telling Axios that “we feel the Russian position is really being heard.”