Trump Opposes Ukraine's NATO Membership

The winner of the U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump, has informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron that he does not support Ukraine's membership in NATO, emphasizing that Europe must play a larger role in supporting Kyiv, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing officials.

Earlier, a trilateral meeting took place at the Élysée Palace involving Trump, Macron, and Zelensky. Trump and Macron first held bilateral talks.

Trump also stated that Europe should take on more responsibility in Ukraine's defense and support. “I want European forces to be present in Ukraine to monitor the ceasefire. I do not rule out U.S. support for an agreement, but American troops will not be involved,” Trump said, according to the newspaper.

It is noted that Trump is also urging Europeans to influence China more actively to pressure Russia into halting the conflict. He and his European counterparts have discussed using tariffs as leverage against Beijing, the publication clarifies.

Previously, Trump promised that he could achieve a negotiated settlement for the Ukrainian conflict, repeatedly claiming that he could resolve it in a single day. The Russian Federation believes that this is a highly complex issue for such a straightforward solution.