The United States government has clarified that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is not currently under consideration, as President Donald Trump seeks to bring an end to the three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war.
United States National Security Adviser (NSA) Michael Waltz stated this during an interview with Fox News on Monday, February 24. “That is not back on the table. I do not see the United States having Ukraine enter into NATO,” Waltz said. He emphasized that while the U.S. remains committed to its NATO obligations, including Article Five treaty agreements, the discussion around security guarantees for Ukraine is separate.
Waltz’s comments follow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement on Sunday, where he expressed his willingness to resign if it would lead to peace in Ukraine. Zelenskyy also suggested that he could exchange his resignation for NATO membership, saying, “Yes, I’m happy, if it is for the peace of Ukraine. If you need me to leave this chair, I am ready to do that, and I also can exchange it for NATO membership for Ukraine.”
The U.S. position underscores the complexities of the ongoing conflict and the challenges in balancing Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership with broader geopolitical considerations.
