Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth made a number of key statements regarding the American position on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine and future relations with NATO. According to him, achieving lasting peace in Ukraine remains the top priority of the Donald Trump administration. 

"The fastest possible end to the conflict and the establishment of a stable peace in Ukraine is the main goal of President Trump," “Hegseth stressed, adding that the United States is ready to consider various options to achieve this goal, including adjusting the volume of military aid. 

He also noted that his recent statements about the unrealistic nature of Ukraine's membership in NATO reflect the official position of the White House. At present, according to Hegseth, the main focus is on finding compromise solutions that could lead to long-term peace, without being tied to NATO expansion issues. 

The head of the Pentagon specifically emphasized that the borders of Ukraine will not be restored to the 2014 level. However, this decision is not a concession to Russia, but rather an acknowledgement of current realities.

"This is not a concession to Putin, it is an acceptance of realism""Hegseth said. 

One of the most important points of the negotiations, according to Hegseth, will be interaction with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He emphasized that neither side will get all the desired conditions, and the negotiations will be based on the principles of compromise and mutual agreement of positions.  

"Neither Putin nor Zelensky will get everything they want. No prior concessions from Russia are required to start negotiations," — the head of the Pentagon noted. 

At the same time, Hegseth emphasized that the United States continues to support NATO and is committed to strengthening its defense capability.

"We are committed to creating a more lethal NATO capable of responding adequately to modern challenges."- he said. 

The issue of the volume of military aid to Ukraine remains open and will likely be discussed during the upcoming negotiations. Hegseth did not rule out either a possible increase in support or its adjustment depending on the progress of the negotiation process. 

The Pentagon chief's statements come amid intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. According to US sources, the Trump administration is preparing a new package of proposals aimed at reducing tensions in the region and creating conditions for negotiations.