NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has indicated that several countries, including Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, and the United States, are impeding Ukraine’s accession to the alliance. Rutte’s comments came during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Institute in the U.S. on April 9.
During the NATO summit in Washington, which marked the alliance’s 75th anniversary, leaders agreed on a definitive path for Ukraine’s membership. However, Rutte noted that the process is currently stalled due to reservations from the aforementioned nations.
“I don’t think this (Ukraine’s membership in the alliance) is on the table right now,” Rutte stated.
He further expressed skepticism about the resolution of this issue at a collective level in the near future.
Rutte emphasized that NATO is learning from Ukraine’s experience in the ongoing conflict, particularly in relation to drone and anti-drone technologies, which are being integrated into NATO’s defense strategy.
“You are masters at this. Zelensky wisely traveled to the Middle East to assist countries in the region in countering drone threats from Iran,” Rutte remarked.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has identified several nations as obstacles to Ukraine's membership in the alliance, stating that resolution of this issue is not imminent. He also highlighted NATO's intention to adopt lessons from Ukraine's military experience, particularly in drone technology.