And if the Ukrainian government knows that then that's probably why they're laying the groundwork for an insurgency.
With the exception of "joining the Warsaw Pact" that's basically the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Two of those countries, Switzerland and Sweden, have been officially neutral since the 1810s. According to
this Austria's neutrality is based on the post-war Austrian State Treaty discussions. Similarly Finnish neutrality is (was?) governed by the
Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948. At present there's a different treaty in place that doesn't have the same stipulations and can be annulled by either party when it comes up for renewal. And Ireland chose not to join NATO not out of wanting to remain neutral but because they didn't want to be in an alliance with the UK. According to
this, NATO would have most likely defended Ireland anyway because NI is there. I also think the strategic value would also have been important.
One thing to note is that four of those five countries are EU members. The Lisbon Treaty requires EU member states to provide assistance in the event that a member state was the victim of armed aggression. There is a question as to whether these states are truly neutral in this day and age. I don't think that the non-neutral EU member states would stand back and watch Finland and Sweden get invaded without putting boots on the ground.
There won't be a neutral Ukraine when the dust settles. Even before this invasion there would be no way Russia would accept neutrality. This entire farce has been designed to do one thing and one thing only, re-orient Ukraine back towards Russia.
The only deal that Russia will accept now is one where Ukraine either toes the line to whatever Russia wants from now until the end of time, or ceases to be and the lands integrated into Russia.
