Ukraine membership in NATO 'not back on the table': Waltz

Ukraine membership in NATO is “not back on the table,” national security adviser Mike Waltz said Monday.

Waltz's remarks underscored previous suggestions from President Trump and other officials in his government that they will not agree to consider putting Ukraine in NATO, which has been seen as a red line for Russia.

“That is not back on the table,” Waltz said on “Fox and Friends.” “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 U.S. troops, coming directly in for the defense of Ukraine. That is very different.”

Members of NATO under Article 5 are to respond to an attack on one as an attack on all.

Ukraine has pushed for acceptance to NATO, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in remarks Sunday said he'd leave his post in exchange for membership to NATO for Ukraine.

“If to achieve peace, you really need me to give up my post, I’m ready,” Zelensky said.

“I can trade it for NATO,” Zelensky also said when asked by a journalist if he would swap his role in favor of peace.

The Trump administration has sought to end the Russia-Ukraine war and has repeatedly signaled it wants to improve relations with Russia.

This has set off deep worries in Ukraine and western Europe about whether the administration is committed to their security.

Trump last week blamed Zelensky and Ukraine for starting the war with Russia, even though the latter massed troops on Ukraine's border before launching a full-scale invasion three years ago. Russia is widely seen as the instigator of the war after it took over the Crimean region and backed separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine.

Trump also described Zelensky as a dictator because he has not held elections since Russia's invasion, under the argument it would not work to have elections during a war when a foreign invader's forces had boots on Ukrainian soil.

Trump's words about Zelensky raised eyebrows given Russian President Vladimir Putin's record in his country. Putin has worked to stifle any dissent of his leadership, and his security officials have been accused of seeking assassinations outside of Russia.

The Hill has reached out to the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for comment.

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