President Donald Trump on Wednesday ruled out offering Ukraine security guarantees or NATO membership as President Volodymyr Zelensky prepared to visit Washington to finalize an agreement involving Ukraine’s natural resources.
Trump, who has shifted US policy by engaging with Russia and advocating for a swift resolution to the three-year war, stated that European allies would take primary responsibility for Ukraine’s security.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Trump confirmed that Zelensky would arrive on Friday to sign the agreement following significant US pressure for Ukraine to grant access to its rare earth minerals, which are critical for aerospace and other technological industries.
“It’s a great deal for Ukraine, too, because they get us over there,” Trump said.
“We’ll be on the land, and, you know, in that way, it’s this sort of automatic security, because nobody’s going to be messing around with our people when we’re there,” he added.
However, Trump made it clear that the United States would not provide formal security guarantees, a key demand from Kyiv.
“I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much,” Trump stated.
“We’re going to have Europe do that,” he continued. “Europe is their next-door neighbor, but we’re going to make sure everything goes well.”
When asked about potential concessions to end the war, Trump ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership, aligning with Russia’s long-standing position that the issue played a role in triggering the invasion.
“NATO—you can forget about,” Trump said. “I think that’s probably the reason the whole thing started.”
In contrast, former President Joe Biden had supported Ukraine’s eventual NATO membership, though without specifying a timeline.
On Monday, the United States aligned with Russia at the United Nations by backing a resolution that called for ending the war without emphasizing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, putting Washington at odds with most European allies.
“We’re going to do the best we can to make the best deal we can for both sides,” Trump said on Wednesday.
“But for Ukraine, we’re going to try very hard to make a good deal so that they can get as much back as possible.”
Trump asserted that his diplomatic approach had led to a more flexible stance from Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as previously unwilling to compromise.
“He’s a very smart guy. He’s a very cunning person,” Trump said of Putin.
“I think we’re going to have a deal. If I didn’t get elected, I believe he would have just continued to go through Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron told Trump on Monday that European nations were open to deploying troops to enforce any potential agreement but stressed that US support remained crucial for long-term security.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to relay a similar message when he meets with Trump on Thursday.
