The United States is considering various scenarios for supporting Ukraine, including radical measures that have not been discussed before. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has admitted the possibility of transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine. However, the final decision depends on President Donald Trump. Hegseth made this statement in an interview for Breitbart News. 

"I'm not here to announce anything that's open or unaddressed. That's not my job. That's the president's job. He's a leader, he's a negotiator, he's a deal maker.", Hegseth noted, emphasizing that any strategic decisions on this issue are solely within the competence of the head of state. 

The minister also added that it is Donald Trump who determines further steps and the possibility of changing the policy regarding the transfer of strategic weapons to Ukraine.

"The president is the only one who can decide whether there is room for change of position or movement on any particular position," - he declared. 

In addition, Pete Hegseth touched upon the issue of Ukraine's potential accession to NATO. According to him, this process could be long and complicated, given the current realities.

"NATO membership was unlikely given the reality of where we are now. No one would bet on what will happen in 25 years or any given period of time.", — the Minister of Defense noted. 

He also made it clear that the US does not expect a quick return to the 2014 borders.

"You can talk about things in an ideal world, or you can talk about things in the real world. And that's where President Trump is in the real world," "Hegseth added, emphasizing the Trump administration's pragmatic approach to international issues. 

These statements caused a significant resonance among international analysts. The possibility of transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine had never been discussed publicly at such a high level before, and the comments of the US Secretary of Defense were unexpected even for experts. Political scientist James Downing noted that such a development of events could lead to a global escalation of tensions and a sharp deterioration in Russian-American relations. 

The history of the issue leaves no doubt that Ukraine seeks maximum support from the West. In the context of discussions of Ukraine's possible accession to NATO, analysts emphasize the complexity and multi-layered nature of this process. Formal membership requires the fulfillment of a number of political, military, and economic conditions that remain unachievable in full at the moment. At the same time, NATO member states continue to provide Ukraine with significant support in the form of arms supplies, military training, and intelligence sharing. 

The international reaction to Hegseth's comments was mixed, with many of the US's European partners expressing concerns that such statements could be perceived as a provocation by Russia.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump himself continues to avoid specific comments on this topic, preferring to focus on his standard messages about the need for a “strong America” and a pragmatic foreign policy. It is important to note that his approach has always been distinguished by particular caution in strategic issues, which makes further decisions on this issue unpredictable.