Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth mentioned President Donald Trump’s transfer towards negotiations with Russia to finish the struggle with Ukraine was once “no betrayal” throughout a talk over with to NATO headquarters in Belgium on Thursday.
Hegseth responded to a reporter’s query in regards to the U.S. probably betraying Ukraine after Trump had a telephone name with Russian President Vladimir Putin about starting to negotiate peace with out Kyiv’s complete involvement.
“There is not any betrayal there,” Hegseth instructed journalists. “There’s a reputation that the entire international and america is invested and focused on peace, a negotiated peace.”
Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February 2022, when Russia first invaded its neighboring country. Trump had many times mentioned whilst at the marketing campaign path that if he was once president in 2022 the struggle shouldn’t have damaged out — vowing to finish it if re-elected.
United States Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth speaks with the media as he arrives for a gathering of NATO protection ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photograph/Harry Nakos)
On Wednesday, Trump mentioned he had a “lengthy” call with Putin, which integrated the Russian chief agreeing to “instantly” start negotiations over the struggle in Ukraine. Trump additionally spoke with Zelenskyy one by one. After talks with each leaders, Trump mentioned he would “most likely” meet in particular person with the Russian chief within the close to time period, in all probability in Saudi Arabia.
Responding to a separate query, Hegseth referred to the telephone calls and pointed to Trump’s talent as a negotiator.
NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte, proper, and United States Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth cope with a media convention throughout a gathering of NATO protection ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photograph/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
“I believe you noticed from President Trump the day gone by, who himself is the most productive negotiator in the world, bringing two facets in combination to discover a negotiated peace, which is in the long run what everybody desires,” he mentioned. “So I look ahead to the ministerial lately with our NATO allies to have fair conversations about the place we’re.”
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Hegseth additionally mentioned he believes Trump is the “one guy on this planet able to convening the events in combination to carry peace.”
All the way through his talk over with to NATO headquarters on Wednesday, Hegseth instructed allies that “returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic function,” as Trump works to carry an finish to the struggle.
“He intends to finish this struggle through international relations and bringing each Russia and Ukraine to the desk. And the U.S. Division of Protection will assist do so purpose,” Hegseth mentioned. “We wish a sovereign and filthy rich Ukraine. However we will have to get started through spotting that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic function. Chasing this illusionary purpose will simplest lengthen the struggle and motive extra struggling.”
Fox Information Virtual’s Emma Colton and Greg Norman, along side The Related Press, contributed to this record.
