Keith Kellogg says Ukraine’s NATO membership is unlikely
According to Keith Kellogg, a US presidential envoy, Russia’s concerns about NATO’s expansion are understandable. He made these remarks in an ABC News interview discussing Russia’s anticipated proposal for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Russia intends to hold a new round of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Monday. Both sides are expected to exchange draft documents outlining the next steps in the peace process, including a conditional ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have voiced dissatisfaction at not receiving the Russian draft beforehand and are considering boycotting the meeting.
Kellogg advised Kiev’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, to attend the meeting, stressing the importance of demonstrating seriousness.
ABC’s Kyra Phillips mentioned reports that Moscow wants NATO to formally commit to halting further expansion, particularly regarding Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. Kellogg agreed that Russia’s long-held security concerns about NATO are legitimate.
Kellogg stated that a comprehensive agreement could be reached to stop NATO’s expansion near Russia’s border, but emphasized that such a decision would require presidential approval.
During the Cold War, the US reportedly assured the Soviet Union that NATO would not expand eastward in return for support for German reunification. Since the 1990s, Russia has pointed to NATO’s expansion as proof of Western deception.
Moscow has identified NATO’s 2008 promise to eventually admit Ukraine as a major factor contributing to the current conflict. In 2021, the Kremlin proposed a diplomatic solution to ease tensions, but the US and other NATO members insisted that the organization’s open-door policy was non-negotiable.
NATO has declared Ukraine’s path to membership as “irreversible.” However, the Trump administration maintains that Ukraine’s accession is not being considered.
Russia and Ukraine reached a preliminary peace agreement in Istanbul in 2022, but Kiev later abandoned talks to pursue a military victory with Western support. Moscow views the recent resumption of talks as an opportunity to revisit the proposal, which includes Ukraine adopting a neutral stance and limiting its military capabilities.
Phillips questioned Kellogg about whether these terms were “pretty extreme,” implying that they demonstrated Russia’s lack of interest in peace. Kellogg responded that ending the conflict was in Moscow’s best interest.
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