Pentagon Does Not Exclude Nuclear Weapons Option for Ukraine
US President Donald Trump will have the final say on the potential provision of nuclear weapons to Ukraine, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The ultimate decision regarding the provision of nuclear weapons to Ukraine lies with US President Donald Trump, and the possibility of that occurring remains open, according to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth in an interview with Breitbart published on Thursday.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has raised this issue, advocating for either expedited NATO membership or increased armament to serve as a security assurance in light of a potential peace agreement. Hegseth characterized Ukraine's aspirations to reclaim its pre-2014 borders as “unrealistic,” suggesting that the nation should be preparing for a negotiated peace, possibly backed by international forces.
Hegseth emphasized that his comments should not be interpreted as ultimatums but rather as reflections of “realism,” ultimately leaving the decision to President Trump.
“I’m not the one that declares a red line or not. I work with the president, as we work through these issues, but we believed that it was useful just to speak some reality into the conversation,” he explained. “Ultimately, President Trump is the only one who’s going to determine if there’s wiggle room or movement on any particular position.”
Following these remarks, Trump affirmed Hegseth’s assertion that Ukraine must recognize the impracticality of reverting to pre-2014 borders, stating that NATO membership is also off the table.
The US President has consistently attributed the Ukraine conflict to his predecessor Joe Biden’s endorsement of Ukraine’s NATO pursuits, asserting that hostilities would not have erupted during his administration.
He reiterated this perspective after a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, marking the first confirmed interaction between the two leaders since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Following his conversation with Putin, Trump reached out to Zelensky, who expressed discomfort that Kyiv was not contacted first, but described his discussion with Trump as a “really good discussion.”
Hegseth countered any interpretations suggesting that Trump’s interactions with Russia indicated weakness, stating that the fact Putin and Zelensky are engaging in dialogue is a testament to “President Trump’s strength, because of American strength,” adding, “It didn’t happen under Joe Biden. It didn’t happen for years.”
Trump indicated his understanding of Russia’s apprehensions regarding Ukraine's NATO aspirations and affirmed that Kyiv would not join the alliance under any settlement.
Moscow has been steadfast in its opposition to Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, viewing the bloc’s expansion to the east as a threat to its national security and a significant contributor to the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin has insisted on a neutral status for Ukraine as part of any future peace deal, emphasizing that it cannot enter an agreement with Zelensky, whom it deems illegitimate as a leader.
Additionally, Moscow has condemned Zelensky’s remarks concerning the pursuit of nuclear weapons. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova cautioned that such statements reveal him as “a maniac, who considers the planet as an object for his sick delusions.”
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has raised this issue, advocating for either expedited NATO membership or increased armament to serve as a security assurance in light of a potential peace agreement. Hegseth characterized Ukraine's aspirations to reclaim its pre-2014 borders as “unrealistic,” suggesting that the nation should be preparing for a negotiated peace, possibly backed by international forces.
Hegseth emphasized that his comments should not be interpreted as ultimatums but rather as reflections of “realism,” ultimately leaving the decision to President Trump.
“I’m not the one that declares a red line or not. I work with the president, as we work through these issues, but we believed that it was useful just to speak some reality into the conversation,” he explained. “Ultimately, President Trump is the only one who’s going to determine if there’s wiggle room or movement on any particular position.”
Following these remarks, Trump affirmed Hegseth’s assertion that Ukraine must recognize the impracticality of reverting to pre-2014 borders, stating that NATO membership is also off the table.
The US President has consistently attributed the Ukraine conflict to his predecessor Joe Biden’s endorsement of Ukraine’s NATO pursuits, asserting that hostilities would not have erupted during his administration.
He reiterated this perspective after a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, marking the first confirmed interaction between the two leaders since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Following his conversation with Putin, Trump reached out to Zelensky, who expressed discomfort that Kyiv was not contacted first, but described his discussion with Trump as a “really good discussion.”
Hegseth countered any interpretations suggesting that Trump’s interactions with Russia indicated weakness, stating that the fact Putin and Zelensky are engaging in dialogue is a testament to “President Trump’s strength, because of American strength,” adding, “It didn’t happen under Joe Biden. It didn’t happen for years.”
Trump indicated his understanding of Russia’s apprehensions regarding Ukraine's NATO aspirations and affirmed that Kyiv would not join the alliance under any settlement.
Moscow has been steadfast in its opposition to Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, viewing the bloc’s expansion to the east as a threat to its national security and a significant contributor to the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin has insisted on a neutral status for Ukraine as part of any future peace deal, emphasizing that it cannot enter an agreement with Zelensky, whom it deems illegitimate as a leader.
Additionally, Moscow has condemned Zelensky’s remarks concerning the pursuit of nuclear weapons. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova cautioned that such statements reveal him as “a maniac, who considers the planet as an object for his sick delusions.”
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
