“The U.S. considers Ukraine’s NATO membership and its army reaching the 2014 borders unrealistic,” – Pentagon chief Hegseth

U.S. authorities consider Ukraine’s return to 2014 borders and NATO membership unrealistic as a result of peace negotiations.

This was stated by the new U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, in Brussels at a meeting of the Ramstein Contact Group, which coordinates military aid supplies to Ukraine.

“The U.S. does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” the Pentagon chief said.

He also stated that, in the U.S.’s view, the war has now reached a critical stage.

“We are at a critical moment as the war approaches its third anniversary. Our message is clear: the bloodshed must stop, and this war must end,” the secretary said.

He added that the U.S. will not send peacekeepers to Ukraine—this should be Europe’s responsibility.

“Security guarantees for Ukraine must be ensured by European countries; the U.S. will not send its troops there,” Hegseth stated.

At the same time, according to the head of the U.S. Department of Defense, Donald Trump’s priority is deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region, as Washington believes that Beijing threatens its national interests.

“We are facing an equal competitor in the form of Communist China, which has the capability and intentions to threaten our homeland and key national interests in the Indo-Pacific region,” the Pentagon chief noted.

Back on February 8, the Pentagon announced that its head would make a statement at the contact group meeting regarding the diplomatic resolution of the war.

Meanwhile, media reports indicated that the new U.S. Secretary of Defense would not announce new military aid to Ukraine in Brussels and would not hold bilateral meetings with Ukrainian representatives. However, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov posted a joint photo with him from the Belgian capital.