NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Ukraine's path to the Alliance remains unchanged and will not be part of any potential peace agreements with Russia.

Source: Rutte expressed this in an interview with the television channel "We-Ukraine"

Details: The NATO leader confirmed that the decision made at the Washington Summit in 2024 regarding Ukraine's irreversible European path remains in effect.

Direct quote: "Ukraine's path to NATO is irreversible. This was the outcome of the Washington Summit, and nothing has changed. When we said that Ukraine would one day become a NATO member, we never claimed it would be part of a peace agreement."

Details: Rutte stated that the West's goal is to secure "genuine peace" for Ukraine, rather than a mere freezing of the conflict like the Minsk agreements.

Direct quote: "Of course, what the American president is working on is bringing Ukraine to a strong, lasting peace. This means not Minsk-3, but a real ceasefire and peace agreement."

Also read: The Battle for Membership and Against Russia: How Ukraine and Allies Prepare for the NATO Summit in The Hague

Background: 

• U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he does not see a possibility for Ukraine to join NATO given Russia's position. Trump views Ukraine's absence from NATO as part of a diplomatic resolution to the war.
• Future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz claimed that Ukraine at war cannot become a member of either the EU or NATO.