US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls for increased European defense spending and a shift in security responsibilities as the US prioritizes other global threats.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that any peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine . However, he stressed that these guarantees should not be contingent upon NATO membership but rather be underpinned by a capable force comprising both European and non-European troops.
Hegseth's remarks came shortly before former President Trump announced on social media that he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to initiate negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Trump stated that he had spoken with Putin on the phone on Wednesday and planned to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to inform him of the conversation. Ahead of a closed-door meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, convened to discuss further aid for Ukraine, Hegseth characterized Ukraine's aspiration to restore its borders to the pre-2014 configuration as an 'unrealistic objective'. He underscored that any security guarantees offered to Ukraine would not involve the deployment of U.S. troops. Furthermore, he stipulated that any peacekeeping forces deployed to Ukraine should be independent of NATO operations and not fall under the purview of Article 5, the alliance's mutual defense clause.The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, comprising approximately 50 countries, has been instrumental in providing support to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Hegseth urged European nations to assume the 'overwhelming share' of lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine moving forward. He also appealed to attendees at the Brussels summit to advocate for increased defense spending within their respective governments, as the U.S. redirects its focus to other priorities. Hegseth asserted that the U.S. is no longer able to serve as the 'primary guarantor of security in Europe,' emphasizing the need for European allies to take a more proactive role in securing the continent. He cited the U.S.'s prioritization of deterring conflict with China in the Pacific as a key factor in this strategic shift. The group has collectively provided Ukraine with over $126 billion in military assistance and weaponry, with the U.S. contributing $66.5 billion and chairing the group since its inception. The identity of the next chair remains unspecified
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