US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth defended President Donald Trump’s push to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating on Thursday that it was “certainly not a betrayal” of Ukraine. Hegseth’s comments came ahead of a NATO defense ministers meeting, in response to concerns from European leaders about Ukraine’s role in future negotiations.
“There is no betrayal there. There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States are invested in peace,” Hegseth said. He added that any peace process would require both Russia and Ukraine to acknowledge difficult realities.
Trump’s recent move to initiate peace talks with Putin caught Ukraine and its European allies off guard. The former US president proposed launching discussions with Putin in his first public phone call since regaining political influence.
Hegseth also outlined Washington’s stance on the conflict, emphasizing that it was unrealistic for Ukraine to regain all its territory or to become a NATO member. He further insisted that European nations should bear the “overwhelming share” of aid to Ukraine, with the United States not committing troops as part of any security guarantee.
In response, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius expressed disappointment at what he saw as premature concessions to Russia, saying it would have been more appropriate to discuss NATO membership for Ukraine or territorial losses at the negotiating table.
A joint statement from foreign ministers of Germany, France, Poland, and Britain emphasized that Ukraine and Europe must have a central role in any peace talks. NATO chief Mark Rutte echoed these concerns, stressing the importance of Kyiv’s involvement in discussions about Ukraine’s future.
Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey also made it clear that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations. Estonia’s Defence Minister, Hanno Pevkur, warned that Europe, which has been heavily involved in Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction, must be included in any peace talks.
European leaders remain cautious about Trump’s peace push, fearing that he may pressure Ukraine into an unfavorable agreement that could embolden Putin and compromise Ukraine’s sovereignty.
