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Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth stated President Donald Trump’s transfer towards negotiations with Russia to finish the warfare with Ukraine was “no betrayal” throughout a go to to NATO headquarters in Belgium on Thursday.
Hegseth replied to a reporter’s query in regards to the U.S. probably betraying Ukraine after Trump had a cellphone name with Russian President Vladimir Putin about starting to barter peace with out Kyiv’s full involvement.
“There is no such thing as a betrayal there,” Hegseth advised reporters. “There’s a recognition that the entire world and the USA is invested and desirous about peace, a negotiated peace.”
Russia and Ukraine have been at warfare since February 2022, when Russia first invaded its neighboring nation. Trump had repeatedly stated whereas on the marketing campaign path that if he was president in 2022 the warfare wouldn’t have damaged out — vowing to finish it if re-elected.
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United States Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth speaks with the media as he arrives for a gathering of NATO protection ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photograph/Harry Nakos)
On Wednesday, Trump stated he had a “prolonged” name with Putin, which included the Russian chief agreeing to “instantly” start negotiations over the warfare in Ukraine. Trump additionally spoke with Zelenskyy individually. After talks with each leaders, Trump stated he would “most likely” meet in individual with the Russian chief within the close to time period, probably in Saudi Arabia.
Responding to a separate query, Hegseth referred to the cellphone calls and pointed to Trump’s capacity as a negotiator.
NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte, proper, and United States Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth handle a media convention throughout a gathering of NATO protection ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photograph/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
“I feel you noticed from President Trump yesterday, who himself is the most effective negotiator on the planet, bringing two sides collectively to discover a negotiated peace, which is in the end what everybody needs,” he stated. “So I sit up for the ministerial in the present day with our NATO allies to have sincere conversations about the place we’re.”
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Hegseth additionally stated he believes Trump is the “one man on the planet able to convening the events collectively to deliver peace.”
Throughout his go to to NATO headquarters on Wednesday, Hegseth advised allies that “returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic goal,” as Trump works to deliver an finish to the warfare.
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“He intends to finish this warfare by diplomacy and bringing each Russia and Ukraine to the desk. And the U.S. Division of Protection will assist obtain this aim,” Hegseth stated. “We would like a sovereign and affluent Ukraine. However we should begin by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic goal. Chasing this illusionary aim will solely delay the warfare and trigger extra struggling.”
Fox Information Digital’s Emma Colton and Greg Norman, together with The Related Press, contributed to this report.
