By KUMAIL JAFFER

Published: 17:14 BST, 21 April 2025 | Updated: 17:15 BST, 21 April 2025

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Donald Trump's decision to rule out NATO membership for Ukraine could solve 'one of the root causes' of the conflict with Russia, the Kremlin has boasted. On Sunday, US envoy General Keith Kellogg said Ukraine's alliance membership was 'off the table'. Previously, Trump has said past American support for Ukrainian inclusion was a cause of the war.

Donald Trump’s decision to rule out NATO membership for Ukraine could solve ‘one of the root causes’ of the conflict with Russia, the Kremlin has boasted. On Sunday, US envoy General Keith Kellogg said Ukraine’s alliance membership was ‘off the table’. Previously, Trump has said past American support for Ukrainian inclusion was a cause of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been a vocal advocate of Kyiv joining the powerful alliance, with the backing of Western nations including the UK. Russia has now said that the new American position gives them 'satisfaction' as peace talks continue. 'We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine's membership in NATO is excluded,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been a vocal advocate of Kyiv joining the powerful alliance, with the backing of Western nations including the UK. Russia has now said that the new American position gives them ‘satisfaction’ as peace talks continue. ‘We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is excluded,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

'Of course, this is something that causes us satisfaction and coincides with our position.' Ukrainian membership of the US-led alliance would threaten Russian interests, Peskov added, saying it was one of the 'root causes of this conflict.' President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in 2022, triggering the worst confrontation between Moscow and the West since the depths of the Cold War.

‘Of course, this is something that causes us satisfaction and coincides with our position.’ Ukrainian membership of the US-led alliance would threaten Russian interests, Peskov added, saying it was one of the ‘root causes of this conflict.’ President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in 2022, triggering the worst confrontation between Moscow and the West since the depths of the Cold War.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden, Western European leaders and Ukraine cast the invasion as an imperial-style land grab and repeatedly vowed to defeat Russian forces, though Russia still occupies a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Trump, seeking to be remembered as a peacemaker, has repeatedly said he wants to end the 'bloodbath' of the three-year conflict in Ukraine - which his administration casts as a proxy war between the United States and Russia . Putin has repeatedly said Russia would be willing to end the war if Ukraine drops its NATO ambitions and withdraws troops from the entirety of four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia .

Former U.S. President Joe Biden, Western European leaders and Ukraine cast the invasion as an imperial-style land grab and repeatedly vowed to defeat Russian forces, though Russia still occupies a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Trump, seeking to be remembered as a peacemaker, has repeatedly said he wants to end the ‘bloodbath’ of the three-year conflict in Ukraine – which his administration casts as a proxy war between the United States and Russia . Putin has repeatedly said Russia would be willing to end the war if Ukraine drops its NATO ambitions and withdraws troops from the entirety of four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia .

At the 2008 Bucharest summit, NATO leaders agreed that Ukraine and Georgia would one day become members. Ukraine in 2019 amended its constitution committing to the path of full membership of NATO and the European Union. In November it was reported that Putin was ready to negotiate a deal with Trump, but would refuse to make major territorial concessions and would insist Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO.

At the 2008 Bucharest summit, NATO leaders agreed that Ukraine and Georgia would one day become members. Ukraine in 2019 amended its constitution committing to the path of full membership of NATO and the European Union. In November it was reported that Putin was ready to negotiate a deal with Trump, but would refuse to make major territorial concessions and would insist Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO.

Trump said yesterday he hopes Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week to end the conflict. 'BOTH WILL THEN START TO DO BIG BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS THRIVING, AND MAKE A FORTUNE!' Trump said in a post on Truth Social. On Friday he warned both Moscow and Kyiv that the US will 'take a pass' on brokering further talks if they 'make it very difficult' in the negotiating room.

Trump said yesterday he hopes Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week to end the conflict. ‘BOTH WILL THEN START TO DO BIG BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS THRIVING, AND MAKE A FORTUNE!’ Trump said in a post on Truth Social. On Friday he warned both Moscow and Kyiv that the US will ‘take a pass’ on brokering further talks if they ‘make it very difficult’ in the negotiating room.

'We're talking about here people dying,' Trump said. 'We're going to get it stopped, ideally. 'Now if, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, "you're fools, you're horrible people," and we're going to just take a pass.' His Secretary of State Marco Rubio added: 'We're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end.'

‘We’re talking about here people dying,’ Trump said. ‘We’re going to get it stopped, ideally. ‘Now if, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, “you’re fools, you’re horrible people,” and we’re going to just take a pass.’ His Secretary of State Marco Rubio added: ‘We’re not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end.’

The Russian rouble traded close to 80 to the U.S. dollar on Monday, the highest level against the dollar since June 2024. The rouble has risen by over 40 percent against the dollar since the beginning of the year on expectations of peace. Asked about Trump's remarks, Peskov said: 'I don't want to make any comments right now, especially about the timeframe.

The Russian rouble traded close to 80 to the U.S. dollar on Monday, the highest level against the dollar since June 2024. The rouble has risen by over 40 percent against the dollar since the beginning of the year on expectations of peace. Asked about Trump’s remarks, Peskov said: ‘I don’t want to make any comments right now, especially about the timeframe.

'President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. 'We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results.' He refused to comment directly on a Bloomberg report that the United States is prepared to recognize Russian control of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement. 'Work on finding a peaceful settlement cannot take place, and should not take place, in public,' Peskov said. 'It should take place in an absolutely discrete mode.'

‘President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. ‘We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results.’ He refused to comment directly on a Bloomberg report that the United States is prepared to recognize Russian control of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement. ‘Work on finding a peaceful settlement cannot take place, and should not take place, in public,’ Peskov said. ‘It should take place in an absolutely discrete mode.’

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Kremlin reacts as US rules out NATO membership for Ukraine

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