Trump says he is fine with the idea of Ukraine’s rejection of NATO membership
US President Donald Trump agreed with the idea of Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO.
So he commented on the statement of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth that Kiev’s joining the bloc is unlikely and impractical.
‘It’s true. I think long before President Putin, they (Russia. – Editor’s note) were saying that under no condition would they allow that to happen,’ Trump said, speaking at the White House.
Trump’s other statements
– A ceasefire in Ukraine is achievable in the not-too-distant future;
– The U.S. intends to continue to provide aid to Kiev, but requires guarantees to protect its investments;
– Ukraine will one day have to hold presidential elections;
– A return of the post-Soviet republic to the 2014 borders is unlikely;
– Ukraine may be able to get back some of its lost territories.
On talking to Putin
– Trump plans to speak with Putin frequently by phone, but also hopes to meet with him in the U.S. and in Russia;
– The first meeting between the two heads of state could take place in Saudi Arabia;
– He has realised that the Russian president is demanding a permanent solution to the conflict in Ukraine;
– The American leader sees no threat in having a direct dialogue with Moscow without Zelensky’s participation.
On Wednesday evening, the Russian and US presidents held telephone talks that lasted almost an hour and a half. The parties, in particular, discussed the settlement of the situation in Ukraine. According to Trump, the two leaders agreed to instruct their teams to start negotiations immediately.
Peace talks
Ukraine’s official renunciation of its intentions to become a member of the North Atlantic Alliance is part of one of the Russian President’s initiatives to resolve the conflict. In addition, Putin emphasised that Moscow would immediately cease fire and declare readiness for negotiations if:
– The AFU will withdraw from the new Russian regions;
– the Kiev authorities carry out demilitarisation and denazification;
– the country adopts a neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status.
The head of state also mentioned in this context the cancellation of anti-Russian sanctions.
At the same time, Moscow has repeatedly reminded that the Kiev regime banned itself from entering into negotiations back in October 2022, and Vladimir Zelensky has big problems in terms of legitimacy.