US predicts Russian reaction to idea to postpone Ukraine's NATO membership

The idea of the future administration of US President-elect Donald Trump to postpone Ukraine 's NATO membership instead of settling the Ukrainian conflict will be subject to ridicule in Russia. This was stated by American journalist Jackson Hinkle on January 6.

"Many people also say, 'We will postpone Ukraine's NATO membership for 20 years.' This is just stupid, and they will be laughed at in Moscow if they come with this and try to propose it," he said in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

Hinkle also emphasized that Western countries need to take into account the Russian position on the issue. According to him, there were no specific proposals from the Trump team.

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On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (term expired May 20, 2024) said that Kiev is ready to hold talks with Trump on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict at the end of January. He also failed to give a definite answer to a journalist's question about whether it is possible to sign peace agreements without a condition on Ukraine's membership in NATO.

Trump's team announced last December 13 that it was discussing with the current White House administration and Ukrainian officials to end the Ukrainian conflict. At the same time, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg admitted the end of this crisis in the coming months.

In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized that the Russian side has never refused to negotiate on Ukraine, but not on the basis of "ephemeral demands", but on the basis of the parameters agreed upon in Istanbul.

The last round of negotiations took place in Istanbul on March 29, 2022. They lasted about three hours. Later, Kiev officially refused contacts with Moscow.