NATO Secretary-General Rutte stated on the 4th that Ukraine joining NATO is not part of the solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The two-day NATO foreign ministers' meeting concluded on the 4th. Rutte said at the press conference afterwards that NATO member states decided at last year's Washington summit that the process for Ukraine to join NATO is "irreversible," and for this reason, NATO is working with Ukraine in various areas, including enhancing the interoperability of the Ukrainian military with NATO forces.
However, Rutte emphasized that NATO has never promised Ukraine that its NATO membership is part of the solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He stated that the foreign ministers of NATO member countries discussed the negotiations between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia at this meeting. NATO will continue to provide support to Ukraine. In the first three months of this year, NATO member states have pledged more than 20 billion euros (approximately 97.22 billion ringgit) in security assistance to Ukraine.
In February this year, U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth said at the "Ukraine Defense Contact Group" meeting held at NATO headquarters in Brussels that the United States does not view Ukraine joining NATO as a "realistic outcome" for negotiating a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the United States does not believe Ukraine's security should be guaranteed by its joining NATO. Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov subsequently stated that joining the EU is Ukraine's sovereign right, but Russia opposes Ukraine joining NATO.