United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ruled out Ukraine’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) membership as part of any peace deal.
Hegseth made this known in Brussels, saying that the US would no longer prioritise European and Ukrainian security but rather focus on border protection and deterring China.
He explained that any security guarantees for Ukraine should involve European and non-European troops, with no US military deployment.
He also dismissed the possibility of restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, calling it unrealistic.
However, his remarks sparked concerns among NATO allies, with some warning that reduced US involvement could weaken the alliance.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, agreeing to begin immediate negotiations to end the war.
Hegseth also reaffirmed Trump’s demand for European NATO members to increase defence spending to five percent of GDP, signalling a shift in security responsibilities.