During an address with Russian journalists, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country is wanting to discuss adopting a neutral status as part of a peace deal with Russia. Any agreement would need to be guaranteed by third parties and put to a referendum.

“Security guarantees and neutrality, non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to go for it. This is the most important point,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelensky  also told the journalists that, “this was the first point of principle for the Russian Federation, as I recall. And as far as I remember, they started the war because of this.” 

Any agreement would have to be put to the Ukrainian people in a referendum, but Zelensky stressed the need to reach a solid peace agreement. 

“So this clause is a security guarantee clause for Ukraine. And since they say it’s for them [security guarantees] as well, it’s understandable to me, and it’s being discussed. It’s in-depth, but I’m interested in making sure it’s not just another piece of paper.” Zelensky added. 

“So we’re interested in having that paper turned into a serious treaty to be signed.”

Zelenksy also said, “the issues of Donbas and Crimea must be discussed and solved” in peace talks.

Then, the day after President Joe Biden’s remarks on Saturday March 26, calling for regime change in Russia, several U.S. officials took to the press. Biden had said President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power.” during a speech from Poland.  Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the U.S. was not pursuing “a strategy of regime change” in Moscow however.

While NATO countries have backed Kyiv and sought to punish Moscow with sanctions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again urged NATO to send more planes, tanks and weapons to support his country.

Having struggled to make progress in the first month of the war, Moscow’s forces appeared to be focusing on an effort to secure control of eastern Ukraine while battling Ukrainian counterattacks.