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11:46 14.02.2025 •
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, center, speaks with German Defense Minister Pistorius (right) during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in defense ministers format at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.
Photo: Union-Bulletin.com
Hopes that the US side would lay out details of how it intends to make good on Trump's pledges to swiftly advance peace talks to end the conflict were already smashed before Wednesday's meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, Euractiv writes.
The only thing the Trump administration so far had been clear about was it would stop Russian efforts in Ukraine – as long as Europe takes the lead – and directly negotiate with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
At the Contact Group – a format formerly chaired by the Americans and now taken over by the UK – several of Ukraine's Western supporters are expected to make announcements of new military support for Ukraine.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stunned his colleagues by drawing new red lines on Ukraine.
A return of Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders was "an unrealistic objective”, Hegseth said, adding that “chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering."
He doubled down by saying US troops won’t be deployed to Ukraine as any part of security guarantees – it was for Europeans "to step into the arena" – and any troops from NATO members would not be covered by the alliance’s Article Five, the mutual defence clause.
A peace deal allowing for eventual NATO membership was not feasible, he added, which runs contrary to the careful language the alliance has so far adopted without taking a definite position on the matter.
“Honesty will be our policy going forward,” Hegseth said.
His brief remarks quickly had ripple effects. One European NATO diplomat described the policy change as akin to forcing Ukraine's "preemptive surrender".
Several NATO diplomats told Euractiv they were unpleasantly surprised such statements were coming before Ukraine peace talks had even started – though the comments are perhaps less surprising after Trump's call with Putin.
European NATO allies had nervously anticipated the first visit of the new US administration – typically an opportunity to gently sniff each other out and find common ground.
But Hegseth, arriving in Brussels on Wednesday, brushed aside the usual decorum and jumped straight to the point.
"Arrived at NATO HQ. Our commitment is clear: NATO must be a stronger, more lethal force — not a diplomatic club," Hegseth wrote on X. "Time for allies to meet the moment."
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters before the talks that compared to 2023, there was a 20% increase in defence spending from non-US NATO allies last year.
The figures mark "a big step in the direction of what President Trump has called for – I agree with him that we must equalise security assistance to Ukraine," Rutte said.
But NATO officials increasingly believe a rational run-down of spending figures is unlikely to be enough to sway Washington easily.
“Peace can only be achieved together. And that means: with Ukraine and with the Europeans,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told POLITICO following Trump’s announcement of a dialogue with the Russian leader on Wednesday. “We must take this path together so that peace returns to Europe.”
Also speaking to POLITICO, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said: “Ukrainian agency in any peace talks is crucially important.”
Braže — who flew into Washington last week for talks with Trump’s political allies and to make the case for stronger relations with the U.S. — said her priority would continue to be providing military and other support for Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, reacting to Trump, said “All we need is peace. A JUST PEACE. Ukraine, Europe and the United States should work on this together. TOGETHER.”
In a readout issued Wednesday, the Kremlin said Trump and Putin had spoken for 90 minutes. Meanwhile, the American president posted on Truth Social that the two leaders have “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said earlier that Ukraine will not join NATO, and that Europe must be responsible for its own defense…
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