US Defense Secretary Addresses Ukraine's Recovery Goals and Peace Negotiations
The U.S. defense secretary emphasized that any peace deal regarding the conflict with Ukraine should include international oversight and exclude NATO membership, calling Ukraine's territorial goals unrealistic.
The U.S. defense secretary has stated that any deal to end the fighting must include international oversight of the boundary between Russian and Ukrainian forces and exclude NATO membership for Kyiv.
BRUSSELS -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday criticized Ukraine's ambition to reclaim all territory lost to Russia since 2014, deeming it an "unrealistic objective." He assured that the Trump administration will actively pursue peace negotiations to conclude the conflict while clearly defining their framework.
"Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more pain and suffering," Hegseth remarked. He emphasized that any peace agreement must entail "robust security guarantees," along with stringent international oversight of the boundary between the two forces, and no NATO membership for Ukraine, as that would necessitate other nations defending Ukrainian territory in future conflicts.
Hegseth, on his inaugural foreign visit as defense secretary, made these remarks at NATO headquarters during a meeting of allies supporting the Ukrainian government through weapons, medical supplies, and various other forms of assistance. He noted that the United States must first prioritize its elevation in competition with China, implying that European nations should take a leading role in ensuring security in Europe.
"As the United States prioritizes its attention to these threats, European allies must lead from the front," Hegseth said. "Together, we can establish a division of labor that maximizes our comparative advantages in Europe and the Pacific, respectively."
Hegseth's comments echo years of increasing skepticism within the Republican Party concerning U.S. support for Ukraine. Recently, President Donald Trump suggested that the United States should receive compensation for the significant military aid provided to Kyiv, proposing $500 billion in minerals extracted from Ukrainian soil.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
