Trump envoy backs Russia on NATO
In an interview with ABC News, US President Donald Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, called Russia's concern about NATO's eastward expansion "fair," adding that the administration does not want to see Ukraine in the military alliance.
Kellogg made the remarks in response to Russia's demand for an end to NATO's eastern expansion as a counterpart to a possible peace agreement in Ukraine.
“Ukraine cannot join NATO, and we are not the only country that says that – I could give you four other NATO countries and it takes 32 out of 32 to allow them to join NATO,” he told the channel, adding that such reservation is not limited to this country, but also to Georgia or Moldova.
Kellogg also mentioned the idea of bringing together the memoranda written by Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to reach an understanding at the meeting next Monday in Istanbul, Turkey. However, this is not yet finalized. Russia has said it is waiting to be able to sit down with Ukrainian representatives on Turkish soil, but Kiev has said that such a meeting depends on Moscow releasing its written memorandum in a timely manner.
The issue may be that, at the last meeting between the two sides, the Russian delegation handed Ukraine a list of ultimatums that amounted to Kiev's capitulation, including the handover of five Ukrainian regions, which the Ukrainian team rejected.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposed this Friday a meeting in his country between the Russian and Ukrainian heads of state and the President of the United States after this potential meeting on Monday.
observador
