"This agreement is a historic failure of Russia and a sign of the beginning of the collapse of the Russian state in its current form," - Georgia's third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, commented on the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations today in Istanbul.
The first major victory for Ukraine was recorded in Istanbul. Russia has acknowledged that it can no longer take Kyiv, and is completely withdrawing its troops from Kyiv. Putin's major dream of taking Kyiv is forever shattered.
Ukraine will not formally become a member of NATO, Ukraine will not join NATO, but NATO will join Ukraine. However, the major and most important members of the Alliance give Ukraine guarantees equal to NATO Article 5, which means that if Ukraine is attacked, they will automatically send troops to defend Ukraine. Most importantly, Russia agrees to this.
Now, after its defeat with Kyiv, Russia will try to step up its offensive in the Donbass, but it will probably sink there as well.
This is a great diplomatic victory, achieved at the cost of the blood of heroic Ukrainian warriors and against the backdrop of the unity of the Ukrainian people.
"God, God, this voice is sweet, let me hear it in my land" - this agreement is a historical failure of Russia and a sign of the beginning of the collapse of the Russian state in its current form, - writes Mikheil Saakashvili.