In Munich on Feb 13, a senior U.S. official stated that the U.S. was considering potential NATO membership for Ukraine and a return to its pre-2014 borders. John Coale, President Donald Trump's deputy envoy to Ukraine, confirmed that the options were still being considered. Coale's remarks contradicted those of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had dismissed the idea of Ukraine regaining its pre-2014 borders.
Following Coale's comments, President Trump criticized President Joe Biden's administration for raising the issue of NATO membership for Ukraine, suggesting it was a reason for the conflict. Amid conflicting messages, Trump has initiated talks to end the war.
Regarding negotiations, Coale mentioned that talks had not formally commenced, and discussions with European and Ukrainian counterparts were ongoing to determine the best approach to ending the conflict.
The European high representative for foreign affairs, Kaja Kallas, voiced concerns about prematurely ruling out options before negotiations started, cautioning against appeasement and emphasizing that such approaches had historically failed.
There are uncertainties regarding Russia's intentions, with Coale suggesting that Putin may be willing to engage in negotiations without preconditions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Western officials not to trust Putin, who initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the focus remains on navigating negotiations with caution and assessing Russia's sincerity at the negotiating table.