US troops won’t be used to safe the peace in Ukraine following any ceasefire cope with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump’s new defence secretary has declared, as he signalled a dramatic shift in American overseas and defence coverage away from Europe.
Pete Hegseth additionally mentioned it’s “unrealistic” to assume Ukraine can return to its pre-2014 borders and he dominated out NATO membership as approach to assure Kyiv’s safety.
This might be an enormous blow for Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The interventions got here on the opening of a gathering of allies in Brussels on Wednesday.
Picture:
Defence secretaries Pete Hegseth and John Healey assembly in Brussels.
Pic: Reuters/Johanna Geron/Pool
Mr Hegseth mentioned Washington should deal with the menace posed by China and securing its personal borders.
He added: “Stark strategic realities stop the US of America from being primarily centered on the safety of Europe.
“As the United States shifts its attention to these threats, European allies must lead from the front,” Mr Hegseth mentioned in opening remarks on the gathering of NATO and non-NATO international locations which might be offering army assist to Ukraine.
NATO spending
Mr Trump – a long-time critic of the alliance, which he sees as containing freeloaders that profit from American army power with out investing in their very own safety – has mentioned all NATO allies ought to enhance defence spending to five% of GDP.
That is greater than double the present goal. The UK is just spending 2.3%.
Whereas nonetheless supportive of NATO, Mr Hegseth warned that America’s endurance was restricted.
“Our transatlantic alliance has endured for decades. And we fully expect it will sustained for generations more. But this won’t just happen,” he mentioned.
He continued: “It will require our European allies to step into the arena and take ownership of conventional security on this continent.
“America stays dedicated to the NATO alliance and to the defence partnership with Europe.
“Our relationship will prioritise empowering Europe to own responsibility for its security.”
Ukraine-Russia conflict
Mr Hegseth additionally had sturdy phrases about Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, which he mentioned “must end”.
Talking frankly, he dismissed a elementary Ukrainian objective to recapture all its territory – together with Crimea and swathes of the Donbas that have been seized by Russia in 2014 when Mr Putin first invaded his neighbour. This goal had beforehand been backed by the UK and different allies.
“We want… a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective,” he mentioned.
“Chasing this illusory goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”
The US defence secretary mentioned {that a} sturdy peace should embody sturdy safety ensures to make sure that the conflict will not start once more – however he made clear that the US wouldn’t be a part of that effort on the bottom and it couldn’t be a NATO operation.
It was not instantly clear, nevertheless, whether or not the US army might assist to offer safety from a distance.
“These security guarantees should not be provided through NATO membership, but must instead be backed by capable European and non-European troops,” the US defence secretary mentioned.
“If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission and not covered under Article 5. There also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact.”
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Pete Hegseth stands with German defence minister Boris Pistorius.
Pic: Reuters/Johanna Geron/Pool
Article 5 of NATO says an armed assault on one member is taken into account an assault on all.
Mr Hegseth continued: “To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine.”
His phrases might be a big setback for Kyiv.
The retreat of the US from its management function in Ukraine was clear within the choreography of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group assembly – an alignment of allies gathered collectively by Washington beneath Joe Biden and his defence secretary Loyd Austin after Russia launched its full-scale invasion nearly precisely three years in the past.
Way forward for European safety
The common conferences have till now at all times been chaired by the US.
Wednesday’s assembly, nevertheless, was led by John Healey, the UK defence secretary.
Mr Hegseth made clear that European allies would want to step up and tackle far more of the trouble to offer Ukraine with weapons and non-military assist.
“Safeguarding European security is 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 mentioned.
This implies donating extra ammunition, increasing Europe’s defence industrial base and rallying the general public to be prepared to answer the menace the continent faces.
“Part of this is speaking frankly with your people about how this threat can only be met by spending more on defence and investing strategically,” Mr Hegseth mentioned.
“Increasing your commitment to your own security is a down payment for the future.”
Earlier, NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte mentioned he agreed with US president Donald Trump on the necessity for Washington and European allies to share the burden of army assist for Ukraine extra equally.
