Russia seeks veto in Ukraine security guarantees

Lavrov says any guarantee for Ukraine must include Moscow and China, threatening a veto over future defense of Kyiv

Russia demands veto in Ukraine security guarantees

Russia has said it will only back security guarantees for Ukraine if Moscow can veto any future moves to defend Kyiv. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued that a truly secure package must involve Russia and its ally China alongside the United States, the United Kingdom and France. Ukraine has rejected any agreement that gives Russia the power to block support from other countries.

US officials have tried to frame recent talks as leading toward an Article 5 like guarantee, but Lavrov's comments complicate that stance. The remarks came as Western diplomats weigh a broader framework involving Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing, and as the EU cautions that any deal must strengthen Ukraine's military posture. Kremlin officials have not confirmed reports that President Putin will attend a direct summit, while hopes for a trilateral peace process fade.

Russia’s insistence on veto power signals a strategy to keep influence over any security guarantees for Ukraine. The move could centralize decision making in Moscow and Beijing, potentially alienating Kyiv’s Western backers and slowing any quick peace. The clash over who can defend Kyiv will test how far Western powers are willing to go to protect Ukraine without inviting a new blocking power.

China’s involvement highlights a broader geostrategic shift. If Beijing plays a role, the guarantees could become a wider security framework with new limits on Ukraine’s options. This raises questions about neutrality versus deterrence and how to keep negotiations alive without rewarding Moscow’s blocking power. Observers say the talks will hinge on durable promises and credible enforcement.

Highlights

The next moves will reveal how far diplomacy can bend without breaking Ukraine’s security