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International political circles and diplomatic teams are actively discussing the prospects of Ukraine’s accession to NATO, but the topic is proving to be extremely controversial on both continents. Diplomat Richard Grenell, a close ally of Donald Trump, has warned that efforts to bring Kyiv into the Western alliance will face serious financial and political obstacles in America unless Europe takes on a greater financial burden. This issue was the main topic of discussion at the recent economic forum in Davos, where international strategies to resolve the war in Ukraine were also considered, Time Ukraine Israel portal reported, citing The Telegraph.
“Americans are no longer ready to finance endless wars”
At the World Economic Forum, Richard Grenell, former US special envoy to the United States, said that any US desire to expand NATO to include Ukraine could face resistance if Europe is not prepared to share financial responsibility. Grenell stressed that the American taxpayers he represents are no longer willing to cover the costs of NATO enlargement when European countries themselves are not meeting their defence spending commitments.
“If the NATO Secretary General continues to talk about expanding NATO at the expense of Ukraine, it will cause a great resonance in America. The Americans are not ready to spend their money on the expansion of the alliance when NATO member states do not fulfil their financial obligations,” Grenell said.
European responsibility: the burden of defending the continent
Grenell left the door open to the possibility of NATO enlargement in the future, but stressed that European countries must shoulder a greater financial burden. The problem is that only 23 of NATO’s 32 member states meet the 2% of GDP defence spending commitment, although this is a condition for membership. This issue becomes even more urgent against the backdrop of the threats posed by the war in Ukraine.
“European nations must more actively fulfil their defence funding commitments. Otherwise, we will not be able to have a stable and secure situation on the continent,” Grenell stressed, adding that NATO member states should not only increase their spending, but also work towards a true strategic partnership in ensuring peace and security.
Speeches in Davos: Putin has no veto over Ukraine’s future
Discussions of Ukraine’s accession to NATO at the Davos forum became even more tense after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have a veto over who can join the alliance in the future.
“We have to make it clear that Putin has no veto over Ukraine’s membership in NATO. The only question is how quickly this can happen, and how we can guarantee that this process will be completed safely and without further interference from Russia,” Rutte said.
Trump and peace talks: the path to the end of the war
The topic of peace talks and finding a way to end the war was an important part of the discussions at the forum. Donald Trump, who has once again become a candidate for the US presidency, promises a quick end to the war in Ukraine. Richard Grenell stressed that Trump will try to find a way to end the conflict by increasing pressure on both sides.
“Trump has a clear vision of how to end this war. And his approach is to stop the bloodshed and create the conditions for peace talks,” Grenell said, stressing the need to talk to all sides to achieve a sustainable peace.
Prospects for Ukraine and NATO: Common Future or Breakup?
Questions about Ukraine’s future in NATO remain on the agenda, but one thing is clear: this process requires a comprehensive discussion and serious financial and political commitment from all member states. All eyes are on Europe, which must find a way to cover some of the costs of defending the continent in order to achieve a secure and sustainable peace. The near future will show whether this will be possible.
