MUNICH, Feb 13 (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official announced that the United States has not dismissed the possibility of NATO membership for Ukraine or a return to its pre-2014 borders through negotiation. This statement contradicts remarks made by the U.S. Defense Secretary earlier this week, ahead of potential peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing Ukraine war.
In an interview with Reuters in Munich, John Coale, President Donald Trump's deputy Ukraine envoy, confirmed that the options for Ukraine's NATO membership and reverting to pre-2014 borders remain open. Coale's comments come after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested in Brussels that such scenarios were unrealistic and not part of the solution to the nearly three-year-old conflict.
Hegseth’s remarks raised concerns about possible concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin before negotiations even started. Responding to Coale's comments, Trump stated at the White House that he believed Russia would not permit Ukraine's NATO accession, blaming President Joe Biden’s administration for bringing up the topic initially.
Earlier in the week, Hegseth seemed to retract his statements, indicating that all options are open for the Ukraine war negotiations and emphasizing that it is ultimately Trump's decision on concessions. President Trump has directed his officials to initiate discussions to resolve the conflict.
Coale is attending the annual Security Conference in Munich with General Keith Kellogg, Trump's primary Ukraine envoy. Despite Kellogg’s absence from the list of officials leading the formal peace talks, he remains a critical player, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Middle East envoy, is now spearheading negotiations with Russia, Coale mentioned. Both Coale and Kellogg continue to engage in talks with European and Ukrainian representatives.
Coale stressed the importance of European involvement in the peace process, acknowledging that formal negotiations have yet to commence. He noted that while Europeans are eager to end the conflict and provide military support to Kyiv, there are doubts about their full commitment.
Regarding Moscow, it remains uncertain what the U.S. has communicated to the Kremlin about the negotiations. However, Coale indicated that Putin appears open to negotiations without preconditions. Coale commented on Witkoff's recent trip to Moscow, where he met with Putin, suggesting a willingness on Putin's part to engage in discussions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy cautioned Western officials against trusting Putin, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. European officials have expressed deep concerns over Hegseth's earlier comments, with Kaja Kallas, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs, warning against making premature concessions to Russia.
In response to queries about potential U.S. concessions to Putin, Coale clarified that there has been no concession, and that any premature statements were not reflective of the official stance. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of dealing with Putin and the Russians, underscoring the importance of negotiations to ascertain their sincerity.
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Reporting by Erin Banco. Editing by Don Durfee and Rosalba O'Brien.
