NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Ukraine can apply for NATO membership in principle, but some allies are blocking the unanimity required for accession. Speaking in Warsaw, Poland, Rutte named the United States, Hungary, and Slovakia as countries opposing Ukraine’s entry. He said NATO is instead discussing layered security guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks, involving Ukraine’s army, a European-led coalition, and US support. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also announced that Dutch-supplied Patriot air defense systems have become operational in Poland.