Mark Rutte: Ukraine’s path to NATO is irrevocably secured, but membership will not become a key element of peace agreements NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed in a firm statement that Ukraine’s course towards accession to the Alliance is irreversible, emphasizing that this issue will not be considered in any future peace agreement with Russia
In an interview with the "We Ukraine" channel, the European leader stressed that the decision made at the Washington Summit in 2024 leaves this direction of global policy completely unchanged. "The path of Ukraine to NATO membership is irreversible. This is the result of the Washington Summit, and nothing has changed regarding this. When we say that Ukraine will one day become part of the Alliance, we have never stated that this prospect will be a condition or an element of a future peace agreement," Rutte said. According to him, the main goal of the West is to facilitate the achievement of genuine, lasting peace for Ukraine, rather than stopping at the idea of another "frozen" conflict, similar to the Minsk agreements. "It is clear that our priority is to help Ukraine establish a stable peace that will last long and will not be again jeopardized by diplomatic compromises. Therefore, our efforts are aimed specifically at achieving a true end to hostilities and signing a genuine peace agreement,” Rutte emphasized. The statement is particularly relevant because political debates surrounding Ukraine’s status and its prospects of joining NATO are ongoing not only in Europe but also in the United States. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has already expressed the opinion that Ukraine should not join the Alliance earlier due to Russia’s position, believing that its absence from NATO could serve as an important diplomatic step toward resolving the war. Additionally, the future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently stressed that the country is not in a position to accept Ukraine into the European Union or NATO while it is in a state of war. "As long as Ukraine remains in an armed conflict, the prospect of its membership in the EU or NATO remains distant. This is a matter of security and political stability, which requires a different approach than just accession during a war," he stated. Thus, the official position of NATO and Western leaders remains unchanged: the prospect of Ukraine joining the Alliance is unwavering and will be finalized regardless of the outcomes of current negotiations or peace agreements. At the same time, as Rutte emphasizes, all efforts are directed toward achieving a stable and lasting peace that will enable Ukraine to regain full sovereignty and security, but without weakening the principles and commitments regarding Alliance expansion in the near future.