During a recent meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine Defense in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a number of statements reflecting Washington’s shift in position on the Ukrainian conflict. He stressed that returning Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic goal. Hegseth also noted that the United States does not view Ukraine’s NATO membership as part of a possible peace agreement.

The statements reflect a shift in American foreign policy priorities. President Donald Trump’s administration has emphasized the need to end the conflict diplomatically, calling for an end to fighting and a lasting peace. Hegseth stressed that further attempts to reclaim territory lost by Ukraine since 2014 would only prolong the conflict and increase suffering.

In the context of ensuring Ukraine's security, the US Secretary of Defense noted that any guarantees must be backed up by European and other international partners operating outside NATO. He also stressed that US troops will not be deployed on Ukrainian territory as part of these guarantees.

These statements reflect a broader shift in U.S. strategic priorities. Hegseth noted that Washington is focusing on domestic threats and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly vis-à-vis China. This calls on European allies to take a leading role in ensuring security on the continent and to increase support for Ukraine.

The reaction of European partners was not long in coming. British Defense Minister John Healey declared his readiness to strengthen support for Ukraine and European security, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts to achieve lasting peace.