According to Pete Hegseth, the attempt to recover all lost territory since the annexation of Crimea will only prolong the conflict with Russia
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, stated that the idea of restoring Ukraine’s borders to the status prior to 2014 is a goal that considers “unrealistic and illusory.” According to him, the attempt to recover all the lost territory since the annexation of Crimea will only prolong the conflict with. Hegseth believes that a peace agreement should be sought more pragmatically. Hegseth also mentioned that the president is committed to seeking a diplomatic solution for the end of the war. He stated that negotiations for peace must be started immediately, highlighting the importance of dialogue between the parties involved.
Trump has already had conversations with Russian President, and with the Ukrainian leader, about his proposals for conflict resolution. The Secretary of Defense stressed that Trump hopes that European countries will assume a more active role, both financially and militarily, in the defense of Ukraine. He suggested that Europeans should increase their investments in the Armed Forces, as no American troops will be sent to the Ukrainian territory. Responsibility for helping Ukraine, according to Hegseth, should be mainly on Europe.
These statements represent a significant change in relation to the former president’s approach, who argued that Ukraine should have autonomy to decide on possible concessions in a peace agreement. NATO, in turn, has reaffirmed its commitment that Ukraine will become a member of the covenant in the future, although without a defined date. Hegseth also emphasized that Europe must take care of its own conventional defense, while US nuclear support will remain a security factor.
*Report produced with the aid of AI
Posted by Fernando Dias
