Austrian or Swedish version. What is known about the progress of negotiations on Ukraine

On Wednesday, March 16, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations continued negotiations in video format. It follows from the statements of the parties that there is a real hope for a compromise.

The vision of the prospects of the Russian side in an interview with RBC was outlined by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Main:

• Negotiations "are not easy for obvious reasons, but nevertheless there is some hope for a compromise." At the talks, "concrete absolutely wording" appeared, close to agreement.
• Ukraine is “beginning to have a businesslike attitude,” which could lead to concrete agreements on the country’s neutrality.
• Moscow does not abandon the task of demilitarizing Ukraine, but is ready to coordinate "those types of weapons that do not pose a threat to us."

The head of the Russian delegation, aide to the President of Russia Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed that at the talks Ukraine itself offers an Austrian or Swedish version of a neutral demilitarized state, "but at the same time a state with its own army and navy."

Medinsky insists that the denazification of Ukraine remains on the agenda - in the form of "first of all, punishments for the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism, extremism based on them."

Later on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that an Austrian or Swedish option for Ukraine was being discussed, but it was too early to talk about any details. “This option, which is indeed being discussed now, and which can be seen as a certain compromise,” he said.

What is neutral status

Austria has been a permanently neutral country since 1955. This means a refusal to participate in military alliances (Austria is not a member of NATO) and a ban on the deployment of military bases on its territory. At the same time, this status allows the state to repel military aggression (Austria has a small but well-trained armed forces), and seek military assistance from other states in accordance with the UN Charter.

Not for Austria. nor has Sweden's neutral status been an obstacle to military ties: both countries participate in NATO's Partnership for Peace program and coordinate security issues with the EU.

Position of Ukraine, market reaction

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday night said that the positions at the talks began to sound "more realistic", "however, time is still needed for decisions to be in the interests of Ukraine." He confirmed that he would address the US Congress today and thanked US President Joe Biden for the $13.6 billion support package.

A participant in the talks, adviser to the head of Zelensky's office, Mikhail Podolyak, has not yet commented on the new statements of the Russian side. But the day before, he described the negotiation process as "very difficult and viscous", with fundamental contradictions.

Brent crude continues to hover around $100 on a perceived easing of tensions. However, the strongest volatility makes the market uninvestable, writes Bloomberg: almost the only reasonable option in such conditions is to reduce positions.