Trump Administration Rules Out NATO Membership For Ukraine As 'Unrealistic', Zelenskyy Reacts

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Defence Secretary Hegseth said that while US wants to see a prosperous Ukraine, the return to its pre-2014 border was an "unrealistic objective".

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News18

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said that NATO membership for Ukraine was “unrealistic" and in sweeping remarks suggested Kyiv should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia and instead prepare for a negotiated peace settlement to be backed up by international troops.

As the war approaches three years, Hegseth delivered the bluntest public statement on the Trump administration’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective," he told the meeting of Ukrainian officials and allies on the eve of a NATO defence ministers’ meeting at its headquarters in Belgium.

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    “Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering," he added. He also pushed for getting Europe to assume most of the financial and military responsibilities for the defence of Ukraine, including a possible peacekeeping force that would not include US troops.

    The remarks were a stark change from the stance taken by the Biden administration as well as Ukraine’s closest ally who have sworn to defend Kyiv as long as necessary against Russian aggression. These remarks may complicate future talks as Ukraine is insistent on getting back its lost territory from Russia and securing protection against future invasions through NATO.

    Trump administration officials had signalled for some time that they would not support those goals, but this is the first time this stance has been officially made public. In recent days, Ukraine has acknowledged that Western aid had failed to repel Russian attacks and retaking its land by force has become unfeasible.

    ‘No US Troops In Ukraine’, Zelenskyy Reacts

    Hegseth said any durable peace must include “robust security guarantees to ensure that the war will not begin again" and declared that US troops would not be deployed in Ukraine as part of such guarantees.

    Hegseth also said Europe “must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine." Ukraine currently relies equally on Europe and the US for about 30% of each of its defence needs.

    ALSO READ: ‘We Want To Stop…’: Trump, Putin Discuss Ukraine War Over Phone Call, Agree To Start Negotiations

    Trump has promised to end the war quickly. He’s complained that it’s costing American taxpayers too much money and suggested that Ukraine should pay for US support with access to its rare earth minerals, energy and other resources.

    Before his inauguration, Trump had also complained that Europe had not done enough to provide assistance to Ukraine. European allies have hiked their defence budgets in the wake of Putin’s invasion and Trump’s threats of letting Russia “do whatever it wants to" if NATO member-states don’t do the same.

    Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would need US help to build an army as big as that of Russia as a “Plan B" to repel future aggression if his country is not admitted into NATO. “If Ukraine is not in NATO, it means that Ukraine will build NATO on its territory. So we need an army as numerous as the Russians have today," Zelenskyy said in an interview with The Economist published on Wednesday.

    Zelenskyy and other senior Ukrainian officials are expected to meet members of Trump’s administration, including Vice President JD Vance on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference later this week to discuss the war.

    Trump, Putin Speak On Call, Agree To Begin Talks

    Meanwhile, Trump on Wednesday announced that he held a “lengthy and productive" call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as part of his efforts to bring an end to the grinding war in Ukraine.

    Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump said they agreed to begin negotiations immediately to end the conflict, beginning by calling Zelenskyy. He later spoke to Zelenskyy and said the Ukraine leader, like Putin, also wanted to make peace.

    This is the first time Washington has officially confirmed any communication between Trump and Putin since the US President took office on a pledge to swiftly end the Ukraine fighting.

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      Earlier, Putin had signalled willingness to direct talks with Ukraine to end nearly three years of fighting. However, he ruled out speaking directly to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him “illegitimate" as his tenure had passed. Trump earlier said American and Russian officials were “already talking" about ending the war.

      (with inputs from agencies)

      News world Trump Administration Rules Out NATO Membership For Ukraine As 'Unrealistic', Zelenskyy Reacts
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