Hegseth Calls Ukraine’s Peace Goals ‘Unrealistic’ In Meeting With Allies (Video)

By Dan Lamothe and Ellen Francis

BRUSSELS — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday called Ukraine’s desire to recover all of the territory it has lost to Russia since 2014 an “unrealistic objective,” pledging that the Trump administration will pursue peace negotiations to end war between the two nations while pointedly shaping them at their outset.

“Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more pain and suffering,” Hegseth said. Any peace deal, Hegseth added, must come with “robust security guarantees,” international oversight of the boundary between Russian and Ukrainian forces, and no NATO membership for Ukraine — something that would require other countries to defend Ukrainian territory in any future conflict.

Hegseth, who is on his first trip abroad as defense secretary, made the comments at NATO headquarters in a meeting of allies backing the Ukrainian government with weapons, medical equipment and array of other support. The United States, Hegseth said, must focus first on its rising competition with China, meaning that European nations must take the leading role in guaranteeing security in Europe.

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