US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, defended President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine by initiating peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, asserting that such actions were “certainly not a betrayal” of Ukraine.
Hegseth made his comments on Thursday ahead of a NATO defence ministers’ meeting. He explained that Trump’s initiative to engage in direct discussions with Putin was not a betrayal but rather a necessary step towards peace.
“There is no betrayal there. There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States is invested and interested in peace,” Hegseth stated.
“That will require both sides recognising things they don’t want to,” he added, emphasising the need for compromise from both Ukraine and Russia in any potential settlement.
The US Defence Secretary’s comments came after Trump surprised Ukraine and Washington’s European allies by announcing peace talks with Putin in his first publicly revealed phone call since returning to power.
Trump’s decision to explore a potential peace agreement was met with mixed reactions from Europe, where concerns have been raised about Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity under such negotiations.
Hegseth outlined several expectations from the United States regarding the war’s end, stressing that Ukraine’s full territorial recovery, particularly in regions like Crimea, was not realistic.
He also rejected the possibility of Ukraine becoming a NATO member as part of the peace process, a long-standing goal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Hegseth reiterated that Europe must take on a larger share of financial and military responsibility for Ukraine, with the US no longer willing to deploy troops under any security guarantees.
Germany’s Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, criticised the US for making concessions to Russia ahead of any peace talks, describing it as “regrettable.”
He suggested that it would have been more prudent for Washington to address the issues of NATO membership or territorial losses for Ukraine directly at the negotiating table, rather than making decisions prematurely.
In response to the growing concerns in Europe, foreign ministers from key European nations, including Germany, France, Poland, and Britain, issued a statement asserting that Ukraine and Europe must be involved in any discussions related to the war.
“Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations,” they stated.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also underscored the importance of Ukraine being closely involved in any potential talks, as did the UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey, who warned, “There can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine, and Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any talks.”
The fear among European officials is that Trump’s push for a peace deal might lead to a compromise that leaves Ukraine vulnerable to a stronger, more emboldened Russia.
Estonia’s Defence Minister, Hanno Pevkur, firmly stated, “Europe has to be part of these negotiations. It’s not a question at all,” pointing out that Europe had already made substantial investments in Ukraine’s defence and recovery.
With European leaders increasingly voicing concerns over any peace deal that might undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty or security, the future of peace talks remains uncertain.
Many are wary that Ukraine could be forced into a suboptimal settlement, potentially leaving it at a disadvantage in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
