US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that “everything is on the table” when it comes to attempts at peace in Ukraine, including possible cuts in the number of US troops in Europe. His statement comes after a series of unconventional US actions left European leaders unease, with Washington changing course on the Ukraine war.
Speaking at his first NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Hegseth defended the US position, emphasizing that President Donald Trump is leading negotiations. He described Trump as “the perfect dealmaker” and stressed that decisions on Ukraine’s future rest with him.
Hegseth’s comments follow Trump announcing that he had talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than an hour and intended to start peace negotiations with both Russia and Ukraine. The US defense secretary also made it clear that Ukraine’s entry into NATO and the return of the territories Russia has occupied since 2014 were not on the agenda.
European leaders responded bitterly to these moves, indicating that Ukraine and Europe would be bypassed in the talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned not to trust Putin’s goals and maintained that no deals could be struck without the participation of Ukraine. In the meantime, the Kremlin implied that talks between Trump and Putin would be the priority, with Ukraine and Europe serving a secondary function.
Hegseth did not discount a reduction of the 100,000 US troops currently stationed in Europe, tying the move to current talks. European diplomats, such as German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, complained about the American strategy, advising against making concessions before the negotiation process starts.
As NATO allies seek clarity, Hegseth restated Trump’s pledge to building up the alliance, calling for member states to raise defense expenditure to 5% of GDP, marking a significant change in transatlantic security dynamics.
