Rubio: Ukraine's NATO Membership Not on the Table Currently

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated today, Tuesday, that Ukraine's accession to NATO is not on the table at the moment.

Rubio said during a press briefing: "Ukraine and its NATO membership are not on the table right now, because it is clear that there needs to be a consensus process for this consensus to happen."

He confirmed that "Ukraine's membership in NATO is unlikely at this time due to the positions of other members of the organization," but promised to provide Kyiv with "security guarantees."

The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that any scenario involving the deployment of NATO forces in Ukraine is "completely rejected by Moscow and threatens a sharp escalation."

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum that NATO forces would be legitimate targets for the Russian army if they appeared in Ukraine.

In another context, Rubio, who began a visit to Iceland on Tuesday, considered that this island in the North Atlantic constitutes a "vital forward position" for security amid rising tensions in the region.

Rubio said at a press conference that Iceland has allowed U.S. forces to use its territory, airspace, and waters.

He added, "This has provided us with a vital forward position to monitor clandestine activities and deter our adversaries from entering your sovereign territory and the sovereign territory of our common allies."

At the start of a European tour, Rubio arrived in Iceland on Monday evening to continue strengthening the presence and interests of the United States in the Arctic region, two weeks after Washington signed a security agreement regarding Greenland.

The agreement put an end to a series of disputes that strained relations between Washington and the European Union, amid threats from President Donald Trump to buy the territory or even annex it.

Under the agreement, Washington intends to establish two new military bases in Greenland, which solidifies the self-governing Danish territory's position within the American sphere, following Trump's threats.