Moscow has said it opposes “one-sided” options aimed solely at containing Russia
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has claimed that a complete framework of “security guarantees” for Kiev in case of a ceasefire or peace deal with Russia will be ready as early as next week.
In a Telegram post on Thursday, Zelensky said he had spoken with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adding that they had “discussed the next diplomatic steps” to settle the conflict.
“There has been a lot of talk about security guarantees. National security advisers are currently working on the development of each specific component, and next week the entire configuration will be on paper,” Zelensky added.
According to the Ukrainian leader, Erdogan involved his defense minister in the process to examine “how Türkiye can help guarantee security, including in the Black Sea.”
Erdogan’s office confirmed the call, saying Ankara would continue efforts to secure a “lasting peace” and stood ready to contribute to Ukraine’s security once hostilities end.
Last week, Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislitsa said Western officials were working on security guarantees, promising that a first draft would be prepared by the end of August. He stressed, however, that Kiev “is categorically against trading our land for peace,” although earlier media reports suggested that Ukraine could agree to concede territories to Moscow.
This week, Politico reported that European leaders were eyeing a proposal for a 40km buffer zone between Russian and Ukrainian lines in a ceasefire scenario, potentially patrolled by Western troops. Another discussion reportedly revolved around involving a neutral third country to oversee the enforcement of a truce.
Russia has said it is not against the concept of security guarantees for Ukraine, but stressed that any framework must involve UN Security Council members. Moscow has categorically opposed the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine in any form, reiterating that it seeks to address the root causes of the conflict, including the bloc’s expansion toward Russian borders.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has also criticized Western plans to limit the number of guarantor states to key NATO countries, adding that “the options proposed by the ‘collective West’ are one-sided and clearly aimed at containing Russia.”
Moscow has accused the European powers of abusing the UN snapback mechanism against Tehran
Russia has condemned the decision by the UK, France, and Germany to reinstate UN sanctions against Iran, calling the move a manipulation of international law. The three European countries accused Tehran of failing to meet its nuclear commitments and argued this justifies restoring the sanctions.
The accusations were made in a letter sent on Thursday by London, Paris, and Berlin to the UN that argues that Iran has not fulfilled its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal. The agreement eased UN sanctions in exchange for limits on Tehran’s nuclear program. The US exited the accord in 2018, effectively killing the deal, before re-imposing its own sanctions. The European trio argued that their letter is enough to trigger the snapback mechanism of the agreement.
However, in a statement on Friday, Moscow said the letter had been falsely presented as a step that automatically restarts sanctions and insisted it carries no legal weight. The Foreign Ministry described the move as an arbitrary attempt to bend UN rules for political purposes and warned that it undermines international efforts to find negotiated solutions. The Russian statement said such actions could lead to “irreparable consequences and a new tragedy” if not reversed.
Iran has also condemned the move as “illegal, null and void,” claiming that London, Paris and Berlin have no legal or moral authority to invoke the snapback clause after failing to honor their own commitments. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi threatened to take the “necessary counter-measures” and warned that Tehran could terminate cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency if sanctions are re-imposed.
China also rejected the initiative and presented detailed arguments dismissing the snapback attempt. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said restoring sanctions on Iran “is not a constructive move” and warned it would disrupt efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
The US, meanwhile, welcomed the Western European step. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains open to talks with Tehran but stressed that Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. His remarks came two months after the US, together with Israel, carried out a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities.
Moscow has accused the European powers of abusing the UN snapback mechanism against Tehran
Russia has condemned the decision by the UK, France, and Germany to reinstate UN sanctions against Iran, calling the move a manipulation of international law. The three European countries accused Tehran of failing to meet its nuclear commitments and argued this justifies restoring the sanctions.
The accusations were made in a letter sent on Thursday by London, Paris, and Berlin to the UN that argues that Iran has not fulfilled its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal. The agreement eased UN sanctions in exchange for limits on Tehran’s nuclear program. The US exited the accord in 2018, effectively killing the deal, before re-imposing its own sanctions. The European trio argued that their letter is enough to trigger the snapback mechanism of the agreement.
However, in a statement on Friday, Moscow said the letter had been falsely presented as a step that automatically restarts sanctions and insisted it carries no legal weight. The Foreign Ministry described the move as an arbitrary attempt to bend UN rules for political purposes and warned that it undermines international efforts to find negotiated solutions. The Russian statement said such actions could lead to “irreparable consequences and a new tragedy” if not reversed.
Iran has also condemned the move as “illegal, null and void,” claiming that London, Paris and Berlin have no legal or moral authority to invoke the snapback clause after failing to honor their own commitments. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi threatened to take the “necessary counter-measures” and warned that Tehran could terminate cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency if sanctions are re-imposed.
China also rejected the initiative and presented detailed arguments dismissing the snapback attempt. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said restoring sanctions on Iran “is not a constructive move” and warned it would disrupt efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
The US, meanwhile, welcomed the Western European step. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains open to talks with Tehran but stressed that Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. His remarks came two months after the US, together with Israel, carried out a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities.
Zelensky’s attempt to strip the independence of anti-graft bodies triggered mass demonstrations last month
The Ukrainian authorities have introduced a requirement that all mass gatherings receive prior approval from the military, according to local media and an official. The move comes weeks after Vladimir Zelensky faced widespread protests over his attempt to curtail the independence of anti-corruption agencies.
The restriction, attributed to security concerns, was reported this week based on a leaked instruction from Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko to senior officials. The document outlined a general regulation for mass gatherings under martial law and stated that in Kiev, organizers must obtain permission directly from the General Staff.
On Friday, Nikolay Kalashnik, the head of the Kiev Region administration, confirmed the policy in comments about a recent event – a small concert that he said sparked complaints from residents and had not been approved by the military.
Last month, the Ukrainian parliament passed legislation placing the prosecutor general in charge of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), both previously independent watchdogs. The change was widely seen at home and abroad as an attempt by Zelensky to shield his allies from investigation.
Kiev’s explanation that the reform was needed to root out alleged Russian influence within the agencies failed to convince critics. The decision triggered mass protests reminiscent of anti-government demonstrations prior to the 2022 escalation of the conflict with Russia and prompted Western officials to cut some funding, reportedly warning of a full freeze in aid. The government reversed course under pressure.
The controversy coincided with a decline in Zelensky’s approval ratings and renewed Western interest in potential successors. Retired General Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former top military commander and now ambassador to the UK, is viewed as the leading alternative.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired last year, but he has remained in office under martial law, refusing to transfer power as required by Ukraine’s Constitution.
Zelensky’s attempt to strip the independence of anti-graft bodies triggered mass demonstrations last month
The Ukrainian authorities have introduced a requirement that all mass gatherings receive prior approval from the military, according to local media and an official. The move comes weeks after Vladimir Zelensky faced widespread protests over his attempt to curtail the independence of anti-corruption agencies.
The restriction, attributed to security concerns, was reported this week based on a leaked instruction from Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko to senior officials. The document outlined a general regulation for mass gatherings under martial law and stated that in Kiev, organizers must obtain permission directly from the General Staff.
On Friday, Nikolay Kalashnik, the head of the Kiev Region administration, confirmed the policy in comments about a recent event – a small concert that he said sparked complaints from residents and had not been approved by the military.
Last month, the Ukrainian parliament passed legislation placing the prosecutor general in charge of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), both previously independent watchdogs. The change was widely seen at home and abroad as an attempt by Zelensky to shield his allies from investigation.
Kiev’s explanation that the reform was needed to root out alleged Russian influence within the agencies failed to convince critics. The decision triggered mass protests reminiscent of anti-government demonstrations prior to the 2022 escalation of the conflict with Russia and prompted Western officials to cut some funding, reportedly warning of a full freeze in aid. The government reversed course under pressure.
The controversy coincided with a decline in Zelensky’s approval ratings and renewed Western interest in potential successors. Retired General Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former top military commander and now ambassador to the UK, is viewed as the leading alternative.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired last year, but he has remained in office under martial law, refusing to transfer power as required by Ukraine’s Constitution.
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