Peter Suciu
Russia has been seeking an “ironclad” guarantee that would permanently exclude Ukraine from NATO members and require Kyiv to maintain a policy of neutrality as peace talks continue.
“We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement,” Alexander Grushko told Russian media outlet Izvestia. These guarantees should include Ukraine’s neutral status and NATO countries’ refusal to accept it into the alliance.”
It is unclear and unlikely that Ukrainian officials will accept Russia’s terms. However, the Kremlin may be looking beyond the war and is set on regaining the second-to-top spot in global arms sales. The Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Global Arms Trade (TsAMTO) estimates that the annual Russian arms exports could grow to $17 billion once the conflict ends.
The “independent” defense analyst company estimates that current arms sales from Russia total around $13.75 billion.
“TsAMTO estimates that in four years after the end of the special military operation, the Russian military exports may reach $17 to 19 billion a year and maybe more. The forecast considers that all Russian weapons have been tested in battle and are adapted to the realities of modern highly technological war and have been modified and upgraded according to real combat experience of fighting modern arms supplied to Ukraine,” the Russian research firm said in a statement to Tass.
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