Ukraine's neutral status should be achieved, possibility of its admission to NATO should be ruled out - Russian Security Council secretary

GROZNY. March 15 (Interfax) - Russia believes it is necessary "to achieve the real" neutral status of Ukraine and to rule out its possible admission to NATO, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said.

"Therefore, it is necessary to achieve the real neutral status of Ukraine by ruling out the possibility of its admission to NATO," Patrushev said at a Grozny meeting on national security in the North Caucasus on Tuesday.

"Please note that the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of Ukraine, which was adopted at a universal referendum in 1990, declared its aspiration for a permanent neutral status, non-alignment with military blocs, and pledged not to host, produce or procure nuclear weapons," Patrushev said.

"The Ukrainian constitution of 1996 also refers to this act of declaration of independence," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on March 1 that "a contingent from the Russian Armed Forces will carry on the special military operation until its objectives are achieved."

Many countries have imposed sanctions on Russia.