Special Envoy to the US President Donald Trump's Administration Richard Grenell has sharply criticized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's statements about Ukraine's readiness to join the alliance. His words were part of a public debate that has flared up around Ukraine's prospects for joining NATO and the US role in supporting the alliance.
In a discussion organised in the context of an international forum, Rutte said:
"There is a certain readiness for Ukraine to join NATO. We just need to decide when it will happen."
The remarks prompted an immediate response from Grenell, who stressed that accelerating the process could face resistance within the United States.
"You will face enormous resistance in America if the NATO Secretary General talks about Ukraine joining the alliance. It is the American people who pay for defense. You cannot ask the American people to expand the NATO umbrella when the current members are not doing their fair share. This includes, for example, the Dutch, who should increase their share," "Grenell said.
Grenell’s statement highlights a key issue that has long been debated within NATO: how to fairly share the financial burden among member states. The United States, the alliance’s largest donor, has long pressed its European partners to increase their defense spending. The issue has become especially pressing amid the conflict in Ukraine and the need to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.
In response, Rutte noted that NATO countries should indeed spend more on defense, emphasizing that the current 2% of GDP that the alliance countries have committed to allocating for military needs no longer corresponds to reality.
"We must rethink our commitment and readiness to defend our allies in today's environment," — added the Secretary General.
Discussions over Ukraine's prospects for joining NATO are causing disagreements not only within the alliance but also on the international stage. Kyiv continues to insist on accelerating the process, arguing that joining NATO is necessary to ensure national security and stabilize the region. However, opinions are divided within the member countries themselves. The United States and some Western European countries are approaching the issue cautiously, fearing further escalation of the conflict with Russia.