NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday that Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership is not currently being discussed, though talks are underway on offering Kyiv “Article 5-type” security guarantees, media reports noted.
Speaking on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Rutte stressed that while NATO’s official position remains that Ukraine has an “irreversible path” toward membership, several member states, including the U.S., oppose the move for now. “What we are discussing here is not NATO membership,” he said. “What we are discussing here is Article 5-type of security guarantees for Ukraine, and what exactly they will entail will now be more specifically discussed.”
NATO Discusses Security Guarantees to Ukraine Instead of Membership
Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty enshrines collective defense, meaning an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Ukraine, whose constitution sets NATO membership as a strategic goal, has long pressed for inclusion in the alliance. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Kyiv joining NATO is unacceptable.
Rutte’s remarks suggest that Western allies could extend strong security assurances short of full NATO membership. He also noted that discussions have not included deploying Western troops to Ukraine, local media reports said.
The comments followed a high-profile series of meetings in Washington between Ukraine, U.S. and top European nations.
Donald Trump Suggests Direct Talks With Russia Could Deliver Peace
Trump and other European leaders sought to start negotiations for a trilateral meeting during Monday’s series of White House discussions. European leaders including Zelensky, gathered to talk about steps toward ending the ongoing war in Ukraine and bring peace in the region, media reports said.
“During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.”
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