Nato’s membership for Ukraine was unrealistic: US’ defence secretary Pete Hegseth

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said that Nato’s membership for Kyiv was unrealistic and added that the American troops will not be deployed to Ukraine.
During his remarks, Hegseth advised Ukraine’s Western backers must abandon the “illusionary goal” of returning to its pre-2014 borders and instead work towards a negotiated agreement with Russia, supported by international forces.
These statements were made during the Trump administration’s first NATO visit. Alliance members were anticipating clarity on Washington’s future military and financial support for Ukraine, AP news agency reported.
“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth stated, noting that security assurances must depend on European and non-European military backing.

“To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine,” he confirmed.
This position presents challenges for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who recently indicated that European support without American leadership is inadequate.

No additional US assistance was declared. Hegseth directly stated that strategic priorities prevent America from concentrating primarily on European security.
NATO and EU allies had anticipated these declarations, having prepared for decreased US participation in Ukraine’s military support coordination since 2022. NATO had established its own system for coordinating military aid.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey responded by acknowledging the concerns regarding Ukraine support and European security.
Prior to Hegseth’s address, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told The Associated Press that Putin would only negotiate peace with Ukraine if its supporters maintain sufficient weapons and ammunition supply.
“We have to make sure that he has no other option, and that means to force him to the table,” Rutte said. “He needs to understand that we will not give up on Ukraine. We have to make sure that we have maximum economic impact on Russia.”
NATO operates on the principle that an attack against one ally is considered an attack against all, requiring a unified response. Membership represents the strongest security guarantee, which Ukraine has long sought to obtain.
The defence secretary’s statements indicated the Trump administration’s strategy to reduce involvement in European matters and localise the Ukraine conflict, marking a notable change from the Biden administration’s emphasis on transatlantic relations and Ukrainian assistance.
Hegseth backed President Trump’s request for allies to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, deeming 2% insufficient.
He ended by confirming US dedication to NATO and European defence partnerships, whilst opposing unbalanced relationships that create dependency.