Nato membership for Ukraine not off the table, US official says

MUNICH - A senior US official on Feb 13 said the United States had not ruled out potential Nato membership for Ukraine or a negotiated return to its pre-2014 borders, contradicting comments made this week by the US defence secretary ahead of possible peace talks to end the Ukraine war.

“Right now, that is still on the table,” said Mr John Coale, President Donald Trump’s deputy Ukraine envoy, when asked whether the US had ruled out

possible N

Speaking in an interview with Reuters in Munich, he added that a possible return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 lines was also still on the table.

On Feb 12, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a different message, telling Ukraine's military allies in Brussels that a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders was unrealistic and that the US does not see Nato membership for Kyiv as part of a solution to the nearly three-year-old Ukraine war.

His comments sparked concern that the US had made concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin even before the start of talks.

Speaking after Mr Coale’s comments, Mr Trump told reporters in the White House that he did not believe Russia would “allow” Ukraine Nato membership, blaming President Joe Biden’s administration for broaching the subject in the first place.

“I believe that is the reason the war started,” Mr Trump said. “Biden shouldn’t have said that.”

Earlier on Feb 13, Mr Hegseth appeared to backtrack on his own remarks, telling a press conference that “everything is on the table” for Ukraine war negotiations and that it was up to Mr Trump to decide what concessions will be made.

Mr Trump on Feb 12 ordered his top officials to begin talks on ending the war.

The opposing messages on Ukraine come as Mr Coale is in Munich this week with General Keith Kellogg, Mr Trump's lead Ukraine envoy, for the annual security conference.

Gen Kellogg's name did not appear on a Feb 12 announcement from the president that listed which cabinet officials would lead the formal peace talks.

Mr Steve Witkoff, the US Middle East envoy, will now be helping on negotiations, taking the lead on talks with Russia, Mr Coale said.

Gen Kellogg and Mr Coale are both involved in talks with the Europeans and Ukrainians, he said.

Asked about Gen Kellogg’s role in peace talks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Feb 12 that Gen Kellogg “remains a critical part of this team and this effort”.

European involvement

Mr Coale said that formal negotiations on Ukraine had not yet begun and that the US was still working through discussions with the Europeans and Ukrainians about how best to end the conflict.

“Where do the Ukrainians and Europeans fit into all of this? At this point we don’t know,” Mr Coale said, adding that you “have to have the Europeans involved”.

“The Europeans want this war stopped,” he said. “They are more than willing to participate (in supporting Kyiv militarily). There are doubts... as to whether they are going to give 100 percent. But everything I am hearing indicates they are willing to really get in there.”

It is unclear what exactly Washington has communicated to the Kremlin about negotiations. But Mr Coale said Mr Putin appears to be willing to enter negotiations with Ukraine, without pre-conditions.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the trip Steve Witkoff took to Moscow and how he met with Putin,” Mr Coale said.

“Putin seems to be willing to play ball, but we’re not sure what that means. I think he’s ready to talk.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Western officials on social media on Feb 13 not to trust Mr Putin, who launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Officials in Europe have expressed deep concerns about Mr Hegseth’s Feb 12 comments.

“We shouldn’t take anything off the table before the negotiations have even started. Because it plays to Russia’s court,” Ms Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, told reporters on Feb 13.

“It is appeasement. It has never worked.”

Asked if the US was conceding too much to Mr Putin upfront, Mr Coale said: “Some people talked out of turn, but I don’t think we’re conceding anything.”

“You don’t know with Putin and the Russians,” Mr Coale said.

“Are they trying to play us? Or are they sincere? And then you get to a table and you find out fast.” REUTERS