Hegseth Defends Trump's Move Toward Peace Talks with Russia

During a visit to NATO headquarters in Belgium, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed concerns that President Trump’s outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin could be seen as a betrayal of Ukraine. Hegseth responded to questions by clarifying that engaging in discussions with Russia is a clear sign of the United States’ commitment to achieving a peaceful resolution through negotiation, rather than undermining Ukraine's interests.

Hegseth recounted a situation where President Trump had a phone conversation with Putin, during which the Russian leader agreed to start peace negotiations over the ongoing war in Ukraine. While acknowledging that these discussions are happening without full involvement from Kyiv, Hegseth maintained that the overall goal is to bring all parties together to pursue diplomatic solutions that would ultimately benefit global peace.

He also highlighted President Trump's negotiation skills, describing him as the best negotiator capable of uniting divergent parties in pursuit of a peaceful outcome. Hegseth reiterated that the U.S. Department of Defense is fully engaged in supporting efforts to secure a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine, even as he cautioned that aiming to restore Ukraine’s borders to their pre-2014 configuration would only prolong the conflict and exacerbate human suffering.

In his broader message to NATO allies, Hegseth expressed optimism about fostering honest discussions on the path to ending the war. He stressed that diplomacy remains the cornerstone for achieving lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, indicating that a well-orchestrated negotiation process is the most pragmatic approach to resolving the conflict.