US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth has defended Donald Trump’s move towards ceasefire in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters before today’s session of NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels, Hegseth praised Trump as “the best negotiator on the planet” for bringing both sides to the table in pursuit of peace.
However, he got confronted by reporters with suggestions that the rapid push to peace and talks with Putin could be seen as amounting to a betrayal of Ukraine.
To this, he insisted, “That is your language, not mine. Certainly not a betrayal.”
“There is no betrayal; there is a recognition that the whole world and the US is invested in peace, in a negotiated peace.”
Pete Hegseth
Also, the US Defence Secretary said that the Russian aggression on Ukraine was “a factory reset for NATO” and a moment of “realisation that this alliance needs to be robust, strong, and real.”
“That is why President Trump has called for increased defence spending across the board for NATO, for European countries to recognise this is an urgent, real threat to the continent and this aggression needs to be a wake up call.”
Pete Hegseth
He added that standing up to Russian aggression is “an important European responsibility.”
Germany Says Better If US Had Not Given Concessions Before Ceasefire Talks
However, German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius told the media that it would have been better if the US had not given concessions to Russia before the negotiations even started, pointing to the question of Ukrainian membership of Nato or any territorial losses.
He said that a quick peace deal would not necessarily resolve all worries about Russia’s increasingly assertive policy in the region, as he warned that Europeans would not be just able to “sit back and relax.”
He cautioned against overly celebratory response to the peace talks announcement as he said that Russian President, Vladimir Putin “keeps provoking Europe and remains a threat.”
He noted that while accepting stark geopolitical realities Hegseth spoke about, he specifically warned him against withdrawing US involvement from Europe.
Also, Pistorius asserted that if Putin is serious about peace talks, he should show it by pausing attacks on Ukraine.
He added that Europe must be involved in any negotiations, particularly if Trump expects European allies to play a peacekeeping role in any future arrangement, as suggested by US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth.
When asked about who should represent Europe in any talks, Pistorius floated the idea of Germany taking part, but added that it is for others to decide, insisting that a European voice needs to be at the table.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz said that a deal to end the Ukraine war should not be imposed on Kyiv, after US President Donald Trump agreed to open negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a call. Scholz told a news outlet, “The next task is to ensure that there is no dictated peace.”
European powers, including Britain, France and Germany, have said they have to be part of any future negotiations on the fate of Ukraine, underscoring that only a fair accord with security guarantees would ensure lasting peace.
The rapid developments between Trump and Putin have worried Europe, with the two leaders appearing to be negotiating the future of the continent’s security over the heads of European leaders themselves.
A senior European diplomat called the US position outlined by Hegseth a premature surrender, asking what there would be left to negotiate.
The person also said that the readiness to offer concessions from Ukraine would encourage Russia to demand more in the upcoming negotiations.
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