In a significant departure from the Biden administration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for an end to the Ukraine War and did not announce any new U.S. aid for Ukraine at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. He emphasized President Trump's commitment to achieving peace through diplomacy and negotiations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a stark message at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, calling for an immediate end to the Ukraine War and marking a significant departure from the Biden administration's approach. In a speech to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), a gathering of nations supporting Ukraine , Hegseth emphasized the need for diplomacy and negotiations to achieve a lasting peace.
He underscored President Trump's commitment to ending the conflict through peaceful means, bringing both Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table. Hegseth's address, which marked the 26th meeting of the UDCG, was notable for its absence of any new U.S. aid announcements for Ukraine. This deviation from past meetings signaled a shift in U.S. strategy. Hegseth asserted that a durable peace could only be established through a combination of allied military strength and a realistic assessment of the battlefield situation. He cautioned against pursuing an unrealistic objective of restoring Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders, arguing that it would only prolong the war and inflict further suffering. He further stated that the U.S. did not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine was a viable outcome of a negotiated settlement. Any security guarantees, he emphasized, must be underpinned by capable European and non-European troops. Hegseth outlined specific conditions for any potential peacekeeping deployment in Ukraine, stating that troops should not be deployed as part of a NATO mission but rather under a separate, non-NATO framework, excluding Article 5 provisions. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty obligates members to defend each other in case of an attack, potentially escalating the conflict. He underscored the importance of robust international oversight of the line of contact for any peacekeeping forces. He clarified that, as part of any security guarantee, the U.S. would not deploy its troops to Ukraine. Hegseth articulated President Trump's strategy to pressure Russia into negotiations by reducing energy prices, which have been fueling the Russian war machine. He stated that this would be achieved by unleashing American energy production and encouraging other nations to do the same. Lower energy prices, coupled with strengthened enforcement of energy sanctions, would incentivize Russia to engage in talks. However, Hegseth made a clear call for European allies to assume a larger role in supporting Ukraine, both militarily and financially. He urged them to prioritize defense spending, exceeding the 2 percent of GDP minimum requirement for NATO members. Hegseth stressed that the U.S. could no longer be solely responsible for European security, as it refocuses its attention on other global threats, particularly those posed by China. He emphasized the need for European leadership and a more balanced security relationship. He concluded by reiterating the U.S. commitment to NATO and its defense partnership with Europe, while advocating for a more equitable and responsible approach.
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