Hegseth: Ukraine should not strive for NATO membership

Hegseth: Ukraine should not strive for NATO membership

In Brussels, US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth Russia "has to be ended". He emphasized that NATO accession of Ukraine is unrealistic and that the United States will no longer prioritize the security of Europe and Ukraine, since the Trump administration wants to concentrate on securing the US boundaries and the containment of wars with China.

European responsibility for Ukraine

In his statements before a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Hegseth also explained that European troops should wear the main burden in securing a Ukraines stable after the war-US troops will not be involved, he added.

No American troops in Ukraine

"The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic result of a negotiating solution," said Hegseth. He added that any security guarantees offered by Ukraine "have to be supported by capable European and non-European troops". Hegseth made it clear: "To avoid misunderstandings: No US troops are sent to Ukraine as part of every security guarantee."

return to the borders of 2014 impossible

The Defense Minister expressed that a return to the borders of Ukraine before 2014, before the Russian invasion of the Crimea and in the east of Ukraine, was "an unrealistic goal". These statements are likely to worry about Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, who recently said that Europe alone could not offer effective security guarantees for Ukraine without American leadership.

No new US aid fund for Ukraine

Hegseth also not announced new US aids for Ukraine. He explained: "We are here today, in order to express directly and unequivocally that the drastic strategic realities prevent the United States from concentrating primarily on the security of Europe." These comments were not unexpected for the US allies. NATO and the European Union had already expected the US leadership role in the provision and coordination of military aid for Ukraine.

NATO and European security

UK Defense Minister John Healey reacted to the statements and said: "We hear your concerns to support Ukraine and we hear your concerns about European security." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also commented positively about Hegseth's comments by saying that he “approves of Trump in the fact that we have to adapt security support for Ukraine. But to really change the course of the conflict, we have to do more.”

departure from bidges policy

The Comments by Hegseth represent the clearest form of expression, as the Trump administration intends to decouple itself from Europe and to make the conflict in Ukraine a full European problem. This represents a clear break with the politics of the bid administration, which has raised the transatlantic alliance and support for Ukraine to the centerpiece of its foreign policy.

demand for higher military expenditure

Hegseth also supported President Donald Trump's demands that the allies should increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP instead of only 2%. This is "not enough". Towards the end of his explanations, Hegseth emphasized that the United States "remained committed to the NATO alliance and the defense partnership with Europe. Point. But the United States will no longer tolerate an unbalanced relationship that promotes dependency."

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