Title: Former U.S. Envoy Kurd Volker: Ukraine‘s Immediate NATO Membership Vital to Halt Russian Aggression
A former special representative of the U.S. State Department, Kurd Volker, emphasized the urgency of Ukraine’s immediate NATO membership to deter further Russian aggression. In an interview with LIGA.net, Volker underscored that this move is crucial for preventing another round of hostilities, as Russia has shown contempt for verbal assurances like the Budapest Memorandum.
"Puin understands only strength, and NATO membership is the only thing that can stop him," Volker contended. He stressed that the timeline should be "immediately after the cessation of hostilities and battles," adding, "We should bring Ukraine into NATO."
Volker acknowledged future U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kirt Kellogg’s claim that President-elect Donald Trump could end the Ukraine conflict within months. He agreed that this is feasible due to Russia’s economic instability, with inflation over 30%, interest rates above 21%, and declining reserves. However, Volker expects a resolution by 2025, as Putin aims to appear strong before any future settlement.
On potential U.S. aid and weaponry for Ukraine, Volker believes that President Trump will continue supporting Ukraine militarily, likely through loans for purchasing American arms rather than direct financial assistance. He praised Trump’s approach of achieving "peace through strength" and anticipates measures that will bolster Ukraine’s position and strengthen sanctions against Russia’s energy sector.
Volker dismissed concerns about Trump rescinding the Obama administration’s policy of allowing Ukraine to employ long-range weapons against Russian aggression. He noted that Trump had not explicitly promised to reverse this decision and suggested that the incoming president is seeking Russia’s reaction before making commitments.
Looking ahead, Lt. Gen. Ihor Romanenko (ret.) presented two scenarios for the conflict’s resolution: optimistic and pessimistic. Neither, he noted, involves Ukraine’s capitulation, and it’s too early to hope for restoring the 1991 borders.
SEO-optimized keywords used within the article:
- Kurd Volker
- Ukraine NATO membership
- Russian aggression
- Donald Trump
- Ukraine conflict resolution
- US military aid
- Peace through strength
- Ukraine weaponry
- Russia sanctions
- Conflict scenarios
