Hegseth Tells Ukraine Group Its Goals Are ‘Unrealistic’

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth outlined the harsh realities of the world to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Wednesday in Brussels as he conveyed President Donald Trump’s message that the war between Russia and Ukraine needed to end immediately.

Hegseth told his European counterparts that Trump plans to end the war through diplomacy and by the U.S. helping to force both sides to the table.

“We will only end this devastating war and establish a durable peace by coupling allied strength with a realistic assessment of the battlefield,” he said. “We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine, but we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”

“A durable peace for Ukraine must include robust security guarantees to ensure that the war will not begin again. This must not be Minsk 3.0,” he continued. “That said, the United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement. Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops. If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission, and they should not be covered under Article Five.”

Hegseth bluntly stated that as part of any security guarantee, “there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine.”

He added that Trump was focused on bringing Russia to the table by unleashing American energy production and encouraging other countries to do the same because doing so would weaken Russia’s energy industry, which supplies its defense industrial base.

“Lower energy prices, coupled with more effective enforcement of energy sanctions, will help bring Russia to the table,” he said.

He also said it was time for Europe to step up and invest more in its own defense and not rely so heavily on the U.S. military.

“Safeguarding European security must be an imperative for European members of NATO as part of this Europe must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine,” he said. “Members of this contact group must meet the moment. This means donating more ammunition and equipment, leveraging comparative advantages, expanding your defense industrial base, and, importantly, leveling with your citizens about the threat facing Europe.”

“Part of this is speaking frankly with your people about how this threat can only be met by spending more on defense — 2% is not enough,” he continued. “President Trump has called for 5% and I agree. Increasing your commitment to your own security is a down payment for the future, a down payment of peace through strength.”