US Defense Secretary Hegseth Meets Ukrainian Defense Minister in Brussels, Rules Out NATO Membership

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says it’s “unrealistic” for Ukraine to return to its 2014 borders, when Russia took control of Crimea and pro-Russian insurgents seized eastern parts of the country.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with Hegseth in Brussels today, marking their first meeting. Umerov shared a photo of the meeting on Facebook.

While in Brussels at a defense summit, Hegseth rejected NATO membership for Ukraine, stating that Europe should take responsibility for the country’s security; a policy that tracks closely with President Donald Trump’s attitude towards foreign relations.

“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth said, adding that any security guarantees offered to Ukraine “must be backed by capable European and non-European troops

Meanwhile, new U.S. assistance expected to be announced for Ukraine.

Hegseth said at the summit that it would only be possible to establish a “durable peace” with a “realistic assessment of the battlefield”.

He also rejected the possibility of sending U.S. troops to the war torn country while calling on European neighbors to spend more on Ukraine’s defense.

NATO, funded largely by the U.S., has previously promised Kyiv an “irreversible path” to membership.

Hegseth said: “We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine.

“But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective.

“Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”