Yesterday 13:40

Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects the neutral status for Ukraine demanded by Russia

Ana-Maria Tapescu

14 November 2026, 13:40

International

Președintele ucrainean, Volodimir Zelenski / Foto: shutterstock.com

Always see our news on Google

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine continues to oppose adopting a neutral status, one of Russia’s main conditions for ending the war. The leader in Kyiv ruled out amending Ukraine’s Constitution, which would be necessary to establish such a status.

“If Russian President Vladimir Putin assumes that Ukraine’s neutrality will be established, this will not happen,” Zelensky said, quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, according to dpa and Agerpres.

The statement reaffirms Kyiv’s position in the dispute over the country’s security status. Ukraine is not a member of NATO and, according to Zelensky, does not have long-term security guarantees.

Ukraine’s neutrality was one of the demands made by Russia in the context of negotiations to end the war. Adopting such a status would require amending the Constitution, a step rejected by the Ukrainian president. Zelensky thus maintains that Ukraine will not agree to give up its security options as part of a possible peace agreement.

Context: Zelensky conditions any peace on security guarantees and discussed scenarios related to a ceasefire

Before taking a position on Ukraine’s security status, Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Russia might receive security guarantees, but Ukraine’s security remains the priority, and discussions are taking place in preparation for the renewed Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, with American mediation, following the Abu Dhabi model. At the same time, he called for Europe to participate in the postwar security architecture if the guarantees involve European states.

Zelensky also specified that Ukraine could halt attacks on Russian refineries and diesel fuel depots, at the request of President Donald Trump’s negotiating team, but only if Kyiv receives guarantees or military support. In parallel, the leader in Kyiv also spoke about a possible “energy”/maritime ceasefire as a technical de-escalation measure, noting that the Ukrainians continue the attacks as long as such agreements are not implemented.