₦airaland Forum

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that the war between Ukraine and Russia “must end,” that Kyiv joining NATO is unrealistic and that the US will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security as the Trump administration shifts its attention to securing the US’ own borders and deterring war with China.

In remarks before a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Hegseth also said that European troops should be the primary force securing a post-war Ukraine—something US troops will not be involved in, he added.

“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth said. And he added that any security guarantees offered to Ukraine “must be backed by capable European and non-European troops.”

“To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine,” he said

Hegseth also said that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, before Russia invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine, “is an unrealistic objective.”

Many NATO allies would actually agree with Hegseth that getting Crimea back from Russia is not realistic, and not even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted on that as a precursor to peace talks. One NATO official said it would have been more concerning if Hegseth had said that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2022 borders was unrealistic.

But the comments about security guarantees are sure to concern Zelensky, who said this week that Europe alone cannot provide meaningful security guarantees to Ukraine without American leadership. Zelensky has also continued to insist that his country joining NATO is the only way to deter Russia from launching new attacks in the future.

Hegseth also did not announce any new US aid to Ukraine. “We’re also here today to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe,” he said.

Hegseth’s comments did not necessarily come as a surprise to the US’ allies. NATO and the European Union had been bracing for the US to step back significantly from the leading role it had been playing since 2022 in providing and coordinating military aid to Ukraine. That is why NATO set up its own security mechanism to help coordinate military assistance to the country

NothingDoMe:
They already got Finland and Sweden to join thereby increasing NATO's border with Russia.

Zelensky should take heart. The decision is not from Trump alone but other European leaders as well.

AImiron:
CNN

NothingDoMe:
They already got Finland and Sweden to join thereby increasing NATO's border with Russia.

Zelensky should take heart. The decision is not from Trump alone but other European leaders as well.

Gagare1:
Zelensky..... Zelensky..... Zelensky.....
How many times did I call you?

All these deaths for nothing. Truly, this guy was used and his entire country dumped.

oluwaseunamos33:
Zelesky I pity. Better beg Putin to forgive you

HITdemUP:
Shifting goal post again. You guys are shameless . We talking about Ukraine you bringing in Finland and Sweden . Ipobu

EKONGKING:
So Ukraine is experiencing Henry Kissinger quote in real time


'It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal .

Another ally ditched by America after showing heaven

shegzhkn:
European security is no longer US priority.

Just great.

Empiree:
NATO surrenders Russia.

Now the was must end and zele should have criminal charges.

US with member allow mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico etc to join military alliance with Russia. The same goes for Russia. Russia is regional superpower and will never allow regional countries to join nato.

sonsomegrigbo:
Christians are killing themselves...










And later they will blame Islam