"Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that 'for practical reasons, NATO is not possible now' for Ukraine, as he spoke in Bemowo Piskie, Poland on Thursday. He was asked about potential security guarantees from the US - even 'Article-5-like' ones mooted earlier this week - in event of a peace deal with Russia. "There is a principle and a practical element here. The principle element, as you know, is that any country in the Euro-Atlantic area can apply for membership," he said. "That's the Washington Treaty." "And that is a practical element. And the practical element is that, as we speak, a couple of allies are saying they will not give their consent and therefore will withhold unanimity to Ukraine entering NATO. Countries like Hungary, the United States, Slovakia, and maybe a couple others," he added. "There's currently the debate ongoing. This is extremely important, because indeed, after a peace deal, if not for NATO - and NATO for practical reasons is not possible now - how do we prevent a further attack from the Russians?" he asked. Talks were held between the US, Ukrainians and Europeans in Berlin earlier this week. A joint statement from the Europeans said they had agreed to a 'multinational force' for Ukraine after any peace deal - although it was not clear who would be involved or what the remit might be. Germany also claimed the US had agreed to as yet unspecified 'Article-5-like' guarantees. Volodymyr Zelensky earlier suggested he would drop his country's bid to join NATO. US President Donald Trump said "we are closer now than we have been ever" to a ceasefire. Moscow said it was yet to receive the 'revised' proposals, with talks set for Miami at the weekend. "