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US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is willing to accept Russia’s longstanding objection to Ukraine joining the Nato alliance and that it would not be “practical” to grant Ukraine membership of the organisation.
Trump made this statement while speaking with reporters at the White House, hours after he called the leaders of both Ukraine and Russia. He also said that Ukraine needs elections “at some point.”
He was asked by reporters if he opposed Nato membership for Ukraine.
‘I don’t think its practical’: Trump
“I don’t think it’s practical to have it, personally,” Trump said regarding Ukraine’s bid for Nato membership.
“They’ve been saying for a long time that Ukraine cannot join Nato, and I’m OK with that,” Trump said.
Earlier, Trump stated that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday.
During the conversation, the leaders agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
In September 2022, following Russia’s annexation of parts of southeastern Ukraine, Ukraine applied for Nato membership.
However, Nato allies have made it clear that they are not prepared to admit Ukraine. Even the most committed supporters of Ukraine in Nato are willing to invite the country to join only after the war is over.
Trump, Putin meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine peace talks.
Trump, who has been pushing for a quick end to the nearly three-year war, also denied that Ukraine was being left out in the cold by the direct negotiations between the two nuclear-armed superpowers.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“We expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there – and we’re going to meet probably in Saudi Arabia the first time,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office about his plans to meet Putin.
Trump said he expected it to happen “in the not too distant future” and added that Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman – who played a key role in a Russia-US prisoner exchange this week – would also be involved.
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