The United States of America is willing to discuss with Russia security guarantees regarding NATO’s eastern expansion
This conclusion was reached by U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, who emphasized that Washington is open to finding a compromise in this area within the framework of future diplomatic dialogue. His statements were made during an interview with the American TV channel ABC News, where he spoke about the U.S. position on a key security issue for Moscow. Kellogg confirmed that the U.S. recognizes the legitimacy of Russia's previously expressed demands for NATO not to expand eastward and assured that Washington is open to discussing this aspect at the diplomatic negotiation level. According to him, the United States is prepared to provide so-called "security guarantees" that would address Moscow's concerns regarding the potential accession of new countries to the alliance. At the same time, he emphasized that this step does not mean an imminent accession of Ukraine or other countries of the eastern flank to NATO. "I believe that Russia's concerns are entirely justified. Will they raise this issue? Absolutely. They are not only talking about Ukraine but also about Georgia and Moldova. And we agree that we can discuss halting NATO's expansion up to their borders—that is in their security interest," Kellogg explained. He also highlighted that Ukraine's NATO membership is currently not on the agenda, and more than four NATO member countries support the same position. When asked about the possibility of changing the situation and inviting Ukraine to join the Alliance, the general replied: "We have repeatedly stated that Ukraine's accession to NATO is not on the agenda at this time. And this is not the right moment for such a decision. Not only us, but at least four other countries—I can name them—share this view. For this to happen, unity among all 30 NATO member countries is necessary." The background of this diplomatic discussion dates back to April, when NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Ukraine's prospect of joining the Alliance remains irreversible, but this step is not considered part of a possible peace agreement with Russia. Four weeks later, Czech President Petr Pavel voiced his stance on the issue, noting that a quick invitation for Ukraine to NATO is unlikely, partly due to the official position of U.S. President Donald Trump, who remains an advocate for a cautious approach to alliance expansion. It is important to note that Ukraine's security in the context of European and global stability remains on the agenda, but currently, diplomatic discussions are dominated by debates around guarantees and limitations on NATO expansion, which provoke long-term disagreements and never leave the parties indifferent. While it is premature to talk about a possible date for Ukraine's accession to NATO or about new security packages, tensions surrounding the ideas of alliance expansion continue to grow, raising numerous political and strategic questions that remain open for future discussion.