Trump questions Ukraine’s NATO bid and opens the door for negotiations with Putin.
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| Trump Signals Shift in U.S. Policy, Suggests Ukraine Should Stay Out of NATO |
"I don't think it's practical to have it, personally... They've been saying that for a long time, that Ukraine cannot go into NATO, and I'm OK with that," Trump stated on Wednesday.
These comments followed an extensive phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin—their first confirmed interaction since Trump's return to the White House last month. Trump later announced that both leaders had agreed to initiate negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine and suggested that a face-to-face meeting could occur soon, possibly in Saudi Arabia.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump's perspective, describing Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO and reclaim all its lost territories as "unrealistic." Speaking before a meeting of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, Hegseth emphasized the necessity for Ukraine to prepare for a negotiated peace, potentially supported by international forces, but excluding NATO membership from any agreement.
The Trump administration's openness to considering certain Russian demands, including preventing Ukraine from joining NATO, signifies a notable shift in U.S. foreign policy.
Trump previously acknowledged understanding Russia's position on this issue. Addressing reporters in Florida last month, he noted that Moscow's stance had long been "written in stone," but that former President Joe Biden had disregarded it, contributing to the current conflict. "Somewhere along the line, Biden said, '[Ukraine], they should be able to join NATO.' Well, then Russia has somebody right on their doorstep, and I can understand their feelings about that," Trump added.
Kyiv remains steadfast in its desire to join NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asserted that membership is a crucial security objective and a prerequisite for resuming negotiations with Moscow.
Despite NATO declaring last year that Ukraine is on an "irreversible" path to membership, no specific timeline has been provided. While NATO members have offered political and military support to Ukraine, they have also maintained that Kyiv must fulfill several conditions before joining the alliance, including resolving its conflict with Russia.