A Ukrainian NATO membership is not a realistic outcome of potential negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, according to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Pentagon Chief is in Brussels for two days to discuss NATO affairs. His remarks on Wednesday were made at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which regulates military aid to Ukraine.
Hegseth also considers a return to the Ukrainian borders as they were before 2014 to be an "unrealistic goal". He also ruled out the possibility of Washington sending American peacekeeping troops.
"The United States does not believe that NATO membership is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement for Ukraine," the Pentagon Chief said. Instead, all security guarantees must be backed by "capable European and non-European troops."
If those troops are deployed, he believes that it should not be a NATO mission and should not be covered by Article 5, which determines mutual assistance among NATO countries. In addition, there must be international control over the contact line between Ukraine and Russia.
"To be clear, no American troops will be deployed in Ukraine as part of any kind of security guarantee," emphasised Hegseth at the start of the meeting of the so-called Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), which regulates military aid to Ukraine.
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According to the American defence minister, US President Donald Trump wants to end the war through diplomatic means. "We will only end this devastating war and achieve a lasting peace by linking the strength of the allies to a realistic assessment of the battlefield," said Hegseth.
"We must begin by recognising that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Pursuing this illusion will only prolong the war and cause more suffering," he added. Hegseth also emphasised that the US wants a "sovereign and prosperous Ukraine."
However, Washington does want European countries to take on the largest share of support for Ukraine in the future, to avoid an "unbalanced relationship" within NATO. "The United States remains committed to the alliance and continues to favour a defence partnership with Europe."
