US Official: Ukraine’s NATO Membership and Pre-2014 Borders Still Possible
A top U.S. official said on Thursday that the United States has not ruled out Ukraine joining NATO or returning to its pre-2014 borders, which includes Crimea.
This statement, reported by Reuters, contradicts earlier comments from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said these ideas were unrealistic.
The mixed messages come as the U.S. prepares for possible peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for nearly three years.
John Coale, a senior U.S. official working on Ukraine, told Reuters that both NATO membership for Ukraine and a return to its pre-2014 borders are still “on the table.”
However, Defense Secretary Hegseth had earlier said these options were not part of the solution, causing concern that the U.S. might be giving in to Russian demands before talks even begin.
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, saying he doesn’t believe Russia would ever allow Ukraine to join NATO.
He blamed President Joe Biden’s administration for even suggesting the idea, claiming it might have been a reason the war started. Trump has now ordered his team to begin talks to end the war, but it’s unclear what concessions might be made.
The U.S. is working with European allies and Ukraine to figure out the best way to stop the conflict. Coale said the Europeans are eager to help end the war and are willing to support Ukraine militarily. However, there are doubts about how much they are willing to commit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Western leaders not to trust Russian President Vladimir Putin, who started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. European officials are also worried that taking options like NATO membership “off the table” before talks begin could give Russia an advantage.
Coale admitted that dealing with Putin is tricky. “You don’t know if they’re trying to play us or if they’re sincere,” he said. “You only find out when you sit down at the table.”
This situation shows how complicated peace talks can be, especially when different leaders and countries have different ideas about how to end the war.
Reuters reports that while the U.S. is trying to find a solution, there are still many questions about what Ukraine, Europe, and Russia will agree to.
(Credit: This simplified explanation is based on original reporting by Reuters.)