U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated that Russia’s concerns over NATO’s eastward expansion are "fair" and reiterated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not currently under consideration. Speaking with ABC News, Kellogg addressed a Reuters report indicating Russia sought a written guarantee against NATO enlargement to include Ukraine and other former Soviet republics. “Ukraine joining NATO is not on the table,” Kellogg said, adding that several other NATO members share this stance and unanimous agreement among all 32 members is required for any new entry.
Kellogg emphasized that Russia’s concerns extend beyond Ukraine, pointing to Georgia and Moldova as part of Moscow’s broader security apprehensions. He noted that any final decision regarding NATO policy would be made by President Trump.
In efforts to move peace talks forward, Kellogg revealed plans to merge Ukraine’s and Russia’s draft memorandums into a unified framework. Negotiations are scheduled to resume in Istanbul, with national security advisers from the U.S., Germany, France, and Britain expected to participate.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Kellogg acknowledged Trump’s frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing "a level of unreasonableness" and condemning Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities. He also stressed that Ukraine had been urged to attend the upcoming talks.
Highlighting the human toll of the ongoing war, Kellogg said the combined number of dead and injured has reached a staggering 1.2 million, describing it as "war on an industrial scale."
The developments come amid heightened geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding the future of NATO's role in Eastern Europe.