Ukraine’s bid to join NATO emerged as a central issue in the nearly five hour meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior US officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow this week. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said Washington appeared ready to consider Russian concerns, but no breakthrough was achieved on key disputes including NATO expansion and the status of occupied Ukrainian territories. Moscow insists Ukraine must never join the alliance, while the Kremlin says there is “no compromise” on regions Russia seized since 2022.
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The stalled negotiations drew sharp criticism from Kyiv’s European allies. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Putin has shown no intention of ending the war and is instead escalating military pressure. NATO chief Mark Rutte also vowed long term support for Kyiv and said two thirds of the alliance has committed to sending four billion dollars’ worth of weapons under a new package. Hungary however refused to contribute any funding or arms, accusing other NATO states of “war fanaticism” and undermining US peace efforts.
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Despite the lack of progress, Ukrainian officials said the US delegation described the Moscow talks as “positive” and noted that Kyiv would soon receive another invitation for follow up discussions. The White House confirmed Witkoff and Kushner briefed President Donald Trump after what it called a thorough and productive engagement with Putin. Meanwhile, Ukraine passed its 2026 budget allocating more than one quarter of GDP to defence, signalling continued resolve as the war enters its third year.
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