30-day truce, Kursk factor, NATO bid: Key takeaways from Ukrainian Foreign Minister interview

Contents

• Negotiations in Jeddah
• Truce
• Kursk region
• European contingent
• Red lines
• NATO

Negotiations in Jeddah

"After these negotiations, we have returned to a normal diplomatic track, bilateral interaction, and further dialogue at various levels, including the highest one," Sybiha said, adding that Ukraine was able to demonstrate to the world that it seeks to end the war, whereas the aggressor country wants to continue it.

Truce

"We are talking about a temporary ceasefire. This is by no means a frozen conflict but a temporary ceasefire for 30 days, as stipulated in our joint statement with the American delegation," the minister said. Sybiha emphasized that Russia has no right to impose additional conditions for agreeing to the truce.

He also added that considering the experience of the Minsk agreements and ceasefires in Donbas, which Russia regularly violated, the monitoring process of the ceasefire is extremely important. "We truly need an effective mechanism for objective control. Most likely, it should also include an international component. The question here is who can carry out such monitoring, as there is undoubtedly a national component — this cannot happen without us because it takes place on our territory," Sybiha said.

In practice, monitoring compliance with the truce will also be conducted using unmanned systems, which Ukraine has significantly developed in recent years.

Kursk region

According to Sybiha, despite the recent events in the Kursk region, it remains an important factor. "Kursk remains an important factor in reaching the relevant agreements for establishing a just peace," the minister said.

European contingent

"We already clearly understand the list of countries ready to deploy their troops as important effective elements of the future security guarantees system. So we are already at the stage of discussing the details. The details are geography, quantity, mandate," Sybiha said. Clarifying the role of the United States in implementing this idea, the minister stressed that American participation is "critically important".

Ukraine is not satisfied with merely the absence of hostilities — the main goal is to ensure a truly lasting and just peace, the Foreign Minister emphasized.

Red lines

The Foreign Minister outlined several fundamental aspects that Ukraine will not compromise on in any negotiations. These include territorial integrity and sovereignty. "Ukraine will never recognize the occupied territories," Sybiha emphasized.

The second aspect is that Russia must not have a veto over Ukraine's right to choose its international alliances, including the EU and NATO.

"Third — there can be no restrictions on Ukraine’s defense capability, no restrictions on the strength of our army, our capacities," the Foreign Minister said, adding that Ukraine’s Western partners are aware of these principles.

NATO

"NATO cannot be removed from the agenda," Sybiha assured. According to the minister, there is currently no consensus among NATO member states on Ukraine’s accession, but this goal remains enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution. "The most effective security guarantee for Ukraine is NATO membership," the Foreign Minister said.

Among other concrete security guarantees, Sybiha mentioned allied patrols of Ukrainian airspace, support for Ukraine’s defense industry, artillery and ammunition production, and a priority focus on air defense systems.

Background

The meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, took place on March 11. The US side was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, while Ukraine was represented by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Following the meeting, Ukraine agreed to the US proposal for a 30-day temporary truce and is awaiting Russia’s response.

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine sources shared details about the behind-closed-doors negotiations in Jeddah.