NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has confirmed that Ukraine’s potential accession to the North Atlantic Alliance is no longer being discussed. He stated this in an interview with Bloomberg TV, emphasizing that the issue has been removed from the negotiation agenda.
When asked whether U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed ruled out discussions on Ukraine’s NATO membership, Rutte responded affirmatively.
According to him, the alliance’s current strategy is focused on providing military and financial support to Kyiv within the existing framework of cooperation, but the prospect of full membership in the bloc is no longer on the table.
Rutte stressed that NATO will continue to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities, but the emphasis will be on strengthening partnership without the commitments associated with collective defense, as outlined in Article 5 of the NATO Charter. He also added that key allies, including the U.S., are focused on finding diplomatic solutions to the conflict, which requires a new strategy for engagement with Kyiv.
Some experts believe that the decision to drop discussions on Ukraine’s NATO membership could be part of compromise negotiations with Russia. At the same time, other analysts warn that such a step could weaken Kyiv’s position and lead to a reassessment of the West’s policy of supporting Ukraine.
