Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, dismissed the notion advanced by former North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen that Ukraine could join the alliance without ceding any territory. He articulated this stance during a public address in Washington at the Hudson Institute, clarifying that such a scenario does not align with Ukraine’s fundamental borders or its constitutional commitments. The remark was reported by RIA Novosti.
Earlier reports, including coverage from The Guardian, indicated that Rasmussen allegedly discussed with a senior advisor to Ukraine’s presidential administration the idea of admitting Ukraine to NATO in a way that would exclude areas currently under Russian control. The adviser suggested that removing those territories as a precondition could lower the risk of a direct clash between NATO and Moscow and, in turn, provide Kyiv with security assurances to support ongoing military buildup. This framing appeared as part of broader discussions ahead of the Vilnius NATO summit scheduled for July.
Ermak underscored Rasmussen’s stated principles, reiterating Ukraine’s priority on sovereignty, integrity, and the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders, including Donbass and Crimea. He emphasized that these territorial issues remain central to Kyiv’s strategic calculus and international guarantees that would enable Ukraine to pursue defense modernization within a secure framework that respects its independence.
The Ukrainian official also indicated agreement with the presenter’s assessment that Rasmussen’s proposal could not be realized as a practical pathway to membership. He noted that his own initial reaction mirrored that assessment, reflecting a cautious evaluation of how such a proposal would align with Ukraine’s legal status and international commitments. The conversation touched on the broader dynamics surrounding NATO expansion and how member states balance alliance commitments with regional security realities.