US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged on Wednesday (February 12) that Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership was not a viable end result in negotiations to finish the conflict. He additionally recommended that Kyiv ought to rethink its aim of reclaiming all Russian-occupied territories and as an alternative concentrate on securing a peace settlement backed by worldwide forces.
“The US doesn’t consider that NATO membership for Ukraine is a practical end result of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth stated throughout a NATO assembly aimed toward securing extra army support for Ukraine.
Hegseth’s remarks marked a stark departure from earlier US coverage and aligned carefully with Russia’s place, which calls for Ukraine surrender its NATO ambitions and withdraw from areas annexed by Moscow in 2022.
Trump and Putin agree to start peace talks
Shortly after Hegseth’s assertion, President Donald Trump revealed on Fact Social that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that each leaders had agreed to begin peace negotiations.
“We talked concerning the strengths of our respective Nations, and the nice profit that we are going to sometime have in working collectively. However first, as we each agreed, we wish to cease the hundreds of thousands of deaths happening within the conflict,” Trump acknowledged.
He added that US and Russian groups would start negotiations instantly and that he could be calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to tell him of the dialog.
No US troops in future safety settlement
Hegseth additionally made it clear that whereas a safety assure for Ukraine needs to be established, it could be enforced by European and different worldwide troops—not by the USA.
“To be clear, as a part of any safety assure, there won’t be US troops deployed to Ukraine,” he emphasised. He additional insisted that NATO shouldn’t be concerned in any future peacekeeping mission, because it might set off Article 5 obligations requiring allied nations to defend these forces in case of battle.
Europe should shoulder the burden
The protection secretary additionally referred to as for Europe to tackle nearly all of Ukraine’s army and monetary help shifting ahead.
“Europe should present the overwhelming share of future deadly and nonlethal support to Ukraine,” Hegseth asserted, signaling a shift in Washington’s method to burden-sharing. Presently, the US and Europe every contribute round 30% of Ukraine’s protection wants, with the rest produced domestically by Ukraine.
Zelenskyy responds to Trump’s announcement
Following Trump’s disclosure of his talks with Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he had additionally spoken with Trump concerning the ongoing conflict and prospects for peace.
“I had a significant dialog with President Trump about alternatives to realize peace,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Along with the US, we’re charting our subsequent steps to cease Russian aggression and guarantee a long-lasting, dependable peace. As President Trump stated, ‘Let’s get it achieved.’”
Implications for Ukraine and the Munich Safety convention
Hegseth’s feedback and Trump’s push for negotiations are anticipated to complicate discussions on the upcoming Munich Safety Convention, the place US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to fulfill with Zelenskyy and different officers.
