Here are the key points from the article:
**Ukraine’s Conditions for Peace**
* Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak reaffirmed that Ukraine will never recognize Russian-occupied territories as part of Russia.
* President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated this stance since March 12.
* The US administration has suggested that Kyiv and Moscow must compromise on a peace deal, calling Ukraine’s goal of restoring its pre-2014 borders “unrealistic”.
**Ukraine’s Security Guarantees**
* Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Russia must be held accountable for its actions.
* Sybiha, Ukrainian foreign minister, emphasized three key conditions:
1. Restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
2. Ukraine’s right to choose its alliances (NATO and EU).
3. Unrestricted ability to defend itself.
**Zelensky Signs Law Allowing Ukrainian Troops to Operate Abroad**
* President Zelensky signed a law allowing Ukraine’s Armed Forces to be sent abroad during martial law.
* The law aims to enhance defense cooperation with partner nations, particularly by enabling Ukrainian forces to participate in training and receive military equipment.
**Seoul, Kyiv Discuss Transfer of North Korean POWs to South Korea**
* Ukraine is negotiating with South Korea to hand over two North Korean soldiers taken prisoner by Kyiv.
* Up to 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia’s Kursk Oblast last fall to counter Ukraine’s cross-border incursion launched in August 2024.
**Ukraine Warns Against Rushed Agreement**
* European allies and Ukraine warn that a rushed agreement without security guarantees may fail to ensure lasting peace.
* US President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18 to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.