No, on both counts. I’m sure that a peace could be enforced by the U.S., but it is neither our obligation nor in our national interest to put American lives and treasure between two belligerent neighbors. Further, there is no upside for NATO or the U.S. to allow Ukraine entry. There was a time when it might have been a good idea, but after Ukraine has been drained of resources, they would just be a taker country without contributing anything but risk to the alliance.

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said security guarantees for Kyiv to end Russia’s war would only be effective if the United States provides them, and that he hoped to meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump soon after his inauguration.

 

In an interview with U.S. podcaster Lex Fridman published on Sunday, Zelenskiy said Ukrainians were counting on Trump to force Moscow to end its war and that Russia would escalate in Europe if Washington were to quit the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance.

 

Almost three years after Russia’s invasion, the election of Trump, who returns to the White House on Jan. 20, has sparked hope of a diplomatic resolution to stop the war, but also fears in Kyiv that a quick peace could come at a high price.

 

Zelenskiy used the three-hour interview published on YouTube to call for Ukraine’s NATO membership, emphasizing his belief that a ceasefire without security guarantees for Kyiv would merely give Russia time to rearm for a new attack.