Trump’s No to Ukraine in NATO Upsets Kyiv Before White House Meeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 18, 2025:Right before Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy’s big meeting with President Trump at the White House, Trump made it clear: Ukraine isn’t joining NATO. This statement, which came after Trump and Putin met in Alaska, hits Ukraine hard and surprises many in Europe since it changes what the U.S. and NATO have been saying for years. Now, Zelenskyy has a tough situation. He needs to find a way to get peace and make sure his country is safe for the long haul.
Trump’s Idea: Something Like NATO’s Article 5
After talking with Putin in Alaska, Trump said he’s not so sure about Ukraine joining NATO. Instead, a U.S. representative says the U.S. is offering Ukraine a security promise similar to NATO’s Article 5 as part of a peace deal. This means the U.S. and its friends would promise to protect Ukraine, but without the full NATO commitment. Putin seems okay with this idea.
The Trump team thinks this is a practical way to end the war and satisfy Russia’s demand that NATO doesn’t get bigger to the east. But some people in Ukraine and Europe are worried this might make Ukraine less safe in the future.
Zelenskyy Walks a Fine Line
So, Zelenskyy has a huge job now. He has to handle all these tricky diplomatic issues. He says the U.S. security promise is a big step, but he needs more info. He wants to make sure these promises are real and work to protect Ukraine on land, in the air, and at sea.
To show they’re all in this together, some big European leaders, like France’s President Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Merz, and the UK’s Prime Minister Starmer, will be at the White House with Zelenskyy. They want to show everyone that the EU and NATO are behind Ukraine. They won’t let anyone force a peace deal on Ukraine without them being involved. These European leaders are saying that they’re open to a different type of security plan, but it needs to be strong and something they can actually enforce.
Is NATO’s Door Closing?
Trump’s words go against NATO’s open-door policy, which says any European country can join if they meet the rules and everyone agrees. Ukraine put its desire to join NATO in its constitution in 2019, and it’s been a big part of their plan since the war started.
Now, NATO is at a turning point. While NATO officially says Ukraine can pick its own alliances, Trump’s stance is causing problems within NATO. It’s like giving Russia the power to say what happens to Ukraine, which many allies have warned against. The White House talks will be a test to see if NATO can stay united.
From Stopping the Fighting to Making Peace
The Trump-Putin meeting also pushed for a complete peace deal instead of just stopping the fighting, which Trump says doesn’t last. This is another issue because a full peace deal might mean Ukraine has to give up some land, which they don’t want to do.
The focus is now on making a final peace agreement. For Ukraine, its leaders have to get a deal that keeps their country independent and whole, even if joining NATO isn’t possible. The White House meeting is more than just talk; it’s a very important negotiation that could decide what Ukraine’s borders look like and how they relate to the West and Russia.
