US President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on the war in Ukraine during his first official cabinet meeting on Wednesday, excluding the possibility of Ukraine’s entry into NATO. When asked about the war and concessions to Kiev, Trump stated, “I can tell you that you can forget about NATO.” He suggested that the debate over Ukraine’s entry into the defense alliance was likely the reason the conflict began.
Regarding potential security guarantees for Kiev, Trump made it clear that he saw the responsibility with Europe, stating, “I won’t give comprehensive security guarantees. That’s for Europe to take on.” He added that Europe is in close proximity to Ukraine and the US will ensure that everything goes well.
Trump also commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “Putin is a very clever and cunning man, but he will have to make concessions.” He noted, however, that a deal is a deal and he cannot guarantee anything, as sometimes unexpected things happen.
Lifting sanctions against Russia is not currently on the table, according to Trump, who emphasized the need for a “good deal” that would aim to recover as much of Ukraine’s land as possible. It remains unclear whether he was referring to the return of territories currently controlled by Russia. Just hours earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had rejected a ceasefire along the current front lines in Qatar. Russia has constitutionally defined the regions it has partially occupied as part of its state territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to visit Washington on Friday, where he will sign an agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s natural resources, including rare earth and other minerals, Trump said.