On Monday, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz ruled out the idea of Ukraine joining NATO after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to step down for Ukrainian entry into the military alliance.
“I do not see the United States having Ukraine enter into NATO and then having United States troops essentially obligated, immediately, in terms of Article 5, or coming to have US troops coming directly in for the defense of Ukraine,” Waltz said in an interview with Fox News.
Zelensky made the remarks about resigning in exchange for NATO membership in response to President Trump calling him a “dictator” over the lack of elections in Ukraine. But Zelensky’s comments were not seen as a genuine offer to relinquish power since Ukrainian NATO membership is a non-starter for negotiations with Moscow, and the Trump administration had already ruled out the idea.
Waltz also said he believed the US and Ukraine would soon be signing a deal on Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and other natural resources, although Zelensky has pushed back on the terms the Trump administration has been seeking.
“We expect the Ukrainians to realize the opportunity that this is, and President Zelenskyy to realize the opportunity that this is, to be co-invested with the United States of America in the future of Ukraine, in the future of its economy, and growing the pie in terms of its natural resources, that not only helps Ukraine, but recoups these hundreds of billions of dollars for the Ukrainian people, and for the American taxpayer going forward,” Waltz said.
Zelensky said on Sunday that he did not believe Ukraine was in debt for previous US military aid since President Biden and Congress agreed to provide the assistance as grants, not loans.
Waltz said last week that Zelensky’s refusal to sign the rare earth mineral deal he was offered was one reason why President Trump had been “very frustrated” with the Ukrainian leader. Trump and Zelensky have also been at odds over the talks between the US and Russia that didn’t involve Ukraine.
