No consensus yet on Ukraine's NATO membership, says alliance chief

BRUSSELS

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Tuesday that there is currently no consensus among alliance members on Ukraine's membership, stressing that any potential NATO-related aspects of a peace deal would be handled separately.

Speaking ahead of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, Rutte said allies would discuss evolving security threats and review actions to strengthen deterrence and defense ahead of the next NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, scheduled for July.

He recalled the agreed commitment at the Hague Summit to invest 5% of GDP in defense, including 3.5% on core defense spending, adding that the allies "have made meaningful progress since then."

Rutte emphasized that NATO's security is deeply interconnected with the ongoing war in Ukraine and welcomed US-led efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace. "I'm confident that these sustained efforts will eventually restore peace in Europe," he added.

On Ukraine's NATO membership, Rutte said: "The practical situation is, as you know, that this consensus required by all allies for Ukraine to join NATO. And right now, as you know, there is no consensus on Ukraine joining NATO."

When asked about the likelihood of a peace deal or ceasefire before the Ankara summit, he said: "We pray for a peace deal or a full ceasefire before the summit, so let's hope it doesn't have to wait till then."

Regarding military support, Rutte said he expects some NATO members to announce new contributions to Ukraine in the coming days.

​​​​​​​Rutte also addressed the absence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio from the meeting, noting that he remains "very much involved" in diplomatic efforts on Ukraine despite other responsibilities.

"I totally accept him not being able to be here tomorrow, and I would not read anything in it," he said.

On the Black Sea security situation, Rutte noted Türkiye's concerns, calling recent incidents "further evidence of the broader security risks posed by Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine."

He said NATO is working closely with Türkiye and allies to ensure the success of the next summit in Ankara, including ramping up defense industrial production and utilizing Türkiye's capabilities.