Ukraine's Path to NATO Membership Irreversible, Not Part of Peace Deal – Rutte

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced this at a press conference on Friday in Brussels, preceding a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers, as reported by an Ukrinform correspondent.

He made the statement in response to a question about whether NATO allies still believe that Ukraine's path to NATO membership is irreversible, given recent statements by American officials.

“That's true. We decided in Washington that Ukraine's path to NATO is irreversible. We are creating a bridge for everything we do with Ukraine to ensure maximum interaction between Ukraine and NATO. But Ukraine was never promised that NATO membership would be part of a peace agreement,” Rutte said.

Read also: NATO has provided Ukraine with over 20 billion euros in the first three months of 2025 – Rutte

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously mentioned that Ukraine's membership in NATO is not a realistic prospect. US National Security Advisor Mike Walz has also stated that Ukraine's accession to NATO is unlikely and that this opinion is shared not only by the US but also by other NATO members.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the US refusal to consider Ukraine's membership in NATO as “a big gift to the Russians.”

Photo: NATO