Ukraine said it wants its security to be guaranteed by international forces and rejected proposals pushed by Russia for it to adopt a neutral status comparable to Austria or Sweden.

“Ukraine is now in a direct state of war with Russia. As a result, the model can only be “Ukrainian” and only on legally verified security guarantees”, - its top negotiator Mikhailo Podolyak said.

He called for a legally binding security agreement, signed by international partners, who would “not stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today”.

The Kremlin said today that a neutral Ukraine along the lines of Sweden or Austria was being discussed at talks with Kyiv to end 3 weeks of fighting.