Hegseth misses important session for Ukraine support

Hegseth misses important session for Ukraine support

US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels. This marks the first time since the group was founded three years ago that a high-ranking Pentagon-Officer will not be present to represent the USA, reports CNN, citing informed sources.

Deduction of the USA from the defense alliance

For months, the US government has been gradually withdrawing from the group, which was launched in 2022 by the former Defense Minister Lloyd Austin after Russia attacked the Ukraine . The group was founded to coordinate the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine and contain Russia's military progress.

change in the leadership role

Wherever Austin or a high-ranking Pentagon-Officer had managed the group's monthly meetings, Hegseth has given this role to the United Kingdom in recent months. A ranked US general explained to the legislators on Thursday that it was "very important" to continue to support Ukraine every day on the battlefield to keep the Russian influence.

missed opportunities and comments

in February, Hegseth took part in the UDCG meeting in Brussels at the NATO headquarters. There he informed the allies that the United States no longer acts as guarantors for European security and it was highly "unlikely" that Ukraine could ever join NATO. This comment was a dramatic change from the long-term US position that the Ukraine could one day become a member of the Allianz.

disagreement about Russia and Ukraine

The Trump administration has temporarily suspended its military and intelligence support for Ukraine in the past few months to urge Kiev for negotiations. Despite its refusal to agree to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington, the United States still does not impose any sanctions on.

political tensions and negotiations

Trump criticized the Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly last Sunday and threatened tariffs to countries that buy Russian oil. A few days later, however, he temporarily highlighted sanctions against a Russian finance and Putin allies to invite him for talks in Washington, DC. This was the first time that a Russian official has been traveling to Washington for such conversations since the beginning of the invasion in Ukraine.

growing threats from Russia

While Dimitriev, the Russian negotiator, was in Washington on Thursday, General Christopher Cavoli, the commander of the US European Command, explained to the congress that Russia was a "chronic" and "growing" threat to the USA and the west. According to Cavoli, Russia leads "an active campaign to destabilization throughout Europe and beyond".

doubts about Russia's intentions

US and Western secret service officials believe that Russia is not interested in a good belief in an armistice with Ukraine. Moscow continues to believe that it can maintain the war and survive Ukraine in combat.

conclusions on the situation

A rank-high NATO official said similar concerns on Thursday and said that "Russia continues to believe that time is largely on his side". There have long been questions about whether Putin actually wants to negotiate in good faith. Russia is ready to continue the talks [about improving relationships with the United States] while at the same time provides delays and excuses to reject the US proposals for armistice.