Russia: No Security Guarantees for Ukraine Without Moscow’s Participation
Kremlin Responds to Security Guarantee Proposals for Ukraine
Background of the Security Guarantee Debate
MOSCOW, July 14 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday that there could be no security guarantees for Ukraine without Russia's involvement, responding to a statement by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that Moscow should play no part in shaping such arrangements.
Merz said on Monday that the issue - central to attempts to end the 4-1/2 year war - should be decided by Ukraine and its partners, not by Russia.
Kremlin’s Position on European Involvement
Peskov’s Statement on Security Guarantees
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the comment illustrated the "dead-end position" taken by European governments over the conflict.
"It is impossible to formulate security guarantees without Russia's participation; if the Europeans are truly convinced of this stance and insist upon it, this completely rules out the possibility of European countries participating in the settlement process," Peskov told reporters.
Ukraine’s Security Concerns
Ukraine says it needs guarantees from the West to protect it against future attack by Moscow, whose forces currently control around a fifth of its territory.
EU Sanctions Against Russian Tech Firms
Peskov’s Reaction to EU Sanctions
In response to a separate question, Peskov described the imposition of EU sanctions against tech firm VK on Monday, the company behind Russia's MAX messaging app, as "utterly absurd."
Allegations of Surveillance and Kremlin Denial
Critics accuse the Russian authorities of using the app as a surveillance tool, which the Kremlin denies. Peskov said the EU sanctions would not prevent it from growing rapidly and successfully.
EU’s Justification for Sanctions
The EU said that by developing MAX, VK was providing "technical support for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition".
(Reporting by Dmitry AntonovEditing by Ros Russell)
