US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Wednesday that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not a realistic outcome, signaling a significant shift in U.S. policy toward the ongoing war.
His remarks come as the Trump administration moves away from prioritizing European security and shifts focus to securing U.S. borders and countering China.
“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth said during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
He added that any future security guarantees for Ukraine must be backed by capable European and non-European forces, not the U.S. military.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸🇺🇦 United States says Ukraine will not join NATO and US troops will not be deployed to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/dDqIi826qI
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) February 12, 2025
NATO allies avoid publicly ruling out membership
While many NATO allies share doubts about Ukraine joining the alliance due to political and military tensions with Russia, they have largely avoided saying so publicly.
In a recent interview with CNN, a European defense official stated that while many in NATO don’t necessarily believe Ukraine can join the alliance given the political realities with Russia, they also don’t say so publicly —as Hegseth did — because they want to avoid giving Russia the idea that it can dictate who can and cannot join.
Hegseth’s direct statement represents a break from past U.S. policy, where officials had left the door open to Ukraine’s eventual membership, even if it was unlikely in the near term.
Zelensky and NATO allies react
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long insisted that NATO membership is the only way to prevent future Russian aggression. He has also warned that Europe alone cannot provide Ukraine with the security guarantees it needs without strong U.S. leadership.
Hegseth’s remarks are expected to cause concern in Kyiv. While Ukraine’s NATO membership bid has been largely symbolic since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Zelensky has continued to push for clear Western commitments to Ukraine’s long-term security.
Some former U.S. officials, including Matthew Miller, a former State Department spokesperson, criticized Hegseth’s statement, arguing that it weakens Ukraine’s negotiating position.
US shifts role in Ukraine conflict
Hegseth’s remarks underscore a broader shift in U.S. policy, as the Trump administration signals a reduced role in Ukraine’s defense.
While the U.S. is not immediately cutting off aid, the Pentagon has yet to use nearly $4 billion in congressionally approved military assistance from the previous administration.
Unlike previous years, when Washington played a central role in coordinating Ukraine’s defense support, NATO has taken on a larger role in military aid efforts.
The alliance recently established its security framework to manage assistance, reflecting expectations that the U.S. may step back from its previous level of involvement.
“The stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the stronger they will be at the negotiating table, the greater the chances of getting a good deal for lasting peace.” – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.@SecGenNATO added that NATO is intensely coordinating with President Trump’s… pic.twitter.com/FwC1fmTC7U
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 12, 2025
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed the policy shift, saying he agrees with Trump that European allies should carry more of the burden. However, he emphasized that stronger collective efforts are needed to change the trajectory of the war.
“We must equalize security assistance to Ukraine. But to really change the trajectory of the conflict, we need to do even more,” Rutte said.