Former Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg firmly dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's suggestion of exploring nuclear weapons as a security alternative if swift NATO membership isn't guaranteed. Kellogg, a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia under the Trump administration, told Fox News Digital that the possibility of Ukraine reacquiring nuclear arms is “slim to none.”
Zelenskyy's remarks, made during a recent interview, referenced the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where Ukraine relinquished its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. He argued that if NATO accession isn't forthcoming, Ukraine should consider having its nuclear weapons returned. Russia's subsequent invasions have demonstrably violated the treaty's guarantees.
Zelenskyy has also expressed openness to a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek an end to the conflict, although the Kremlin has not yet reciprocated this willingness. Former President Trump recently announced that preliminary discussions with both Ukraine and Russia have commenced, with Kellogg confirming that concessions from both sides will be necessary for a peace agreement.
The specifics of these potential compromises remain undisclosed, especially regarding the contentious issue of Ukraine's NATO membership. Kellogg declined to reveal Trump's position on this matter, stating that he will be traveling to the Munich Security Conference to gather insights from world leaders and assess the stances of key nations involved in providing military aid to Ukraine, including the U.K., Germany, and Denmark. He aims to bring these perspectives back to President Trump to inform the negotiation process.
Kellogg emphasized the importance of understanding all parties' positions before formulating plans to end the conflict. He intends to utilize the Munich Security Conference as a platform for face-to-face discussions with world leaders to gain a clearer understanding of their concerns and potential areas for compromise.
In line with Trump's directive, Kellogg also plans to advocate for increased defense spending from NATO allies and for them to assume a greater share of the responsibility for the ongoing war in Ukraine. This aligns with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's call for enhanced support for Ukraine to strengthen NATO's deterrent capabilities against the Russia-China-North Korea-Iran alliance.
Rutte stressed the geopolitical ramifications of a negative outcome in the war, warning of a potential alliance between Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, which he deemed unacceptable. He urged NATO members to increase defense spending, emphasizing the potential for trillions in costs if Russia prevails in Ukraine.
