The US government has stated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not on the negotiating table as President Donald Trump seeks to end the three-year Russia-Ukraine war.
“That is not back on the table. I do not see the United States having Ukraine enter into NATO,” US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz told Fox News on Monday.
“We are absolutely committed to NATO at large and our Article Five treaty agreements with other NATO countries, but security guarantees for Ukraine are a different conversation,” Waltz added.
His statement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he was “ready” to step down as leader for the sake of peace in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also hinted at a potential exchange, suggesting he could trade his position for Ukraine’s NATO membership.
“Yes, I’m happy, if it is for the peace of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv.
“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.”
