Ukraine's Sovereignty Stressed at Security Council Meeting

In a briefing marking the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča emphasized the need for a diplomatic resolution that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He highlighted the importance of dialogue involving all stakeholders and reflected on the lessons learned from past agreements, such as the Minsk agreements. Concurrently, U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg asserted that any peace arrangement must be determined by Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, reinforcing Ukraine's autonomy in negotiations. Zelenskiy reiterated that Ukraine will not legally recognize its occupied territories as Russian, emphasizing the importance of NATO security guarantees in any diplomatic deal. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed skepticism about Ukraine's reliability in negotiations, citing past instances where Ukraine backtracked on commitments. This backdrop of differing perspectives underscores the complexities of achieving a lasting peace in the region.