Trump repeats stance on Ukraine's prospects for NATO membership
US President Donald Trump has expressed support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remarks emphasizing that Kiev needs to accept reality. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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The Pentagon chief's assessment of Kiev's situation is considered "pretty accurate" by the US president.
US President Donald Trump has endorsed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks, indicating that Ukraine must recognize the impracticality of reverting to pre-2014 borders and that NATO membership for Ukraine is not an option.
On Wednesday, Hegseth labeled Kiev's aspirations for NATO membership and the recovery of all lost territories as “unrealistic,” emphasizing the necessity for Ukraine to prepare for a negotiated peace potentially supported by international forces. The following day, he dismissed allegations that the US is “betraying” Ukraine as baseless.
When reporters sought his opinion on Hegseth's statements, Trump remarked, “I don’t see any way that a country in Russia’s position could allow them, just in their position, could allow them to join NATO. I don’t see that happening,” attributing the conflict to his predecessor Joe Biden’s backing of Ukraine’s NATO goals.
Pressed on whether he encouraged Hegseth to temper his statements to maintain “bargaining chips,” Trump responded at the White House that he had not done so.
“Somebody told me to, but I thought his comments were good yesterday. They’re probably good today. They’re a little bit softer, perhaps. But I thought his comments from yesterday were pretty accurate,” Trump remarked.
Moscow has consistently rejected Ukraine’s intentions regarding NATO, characterizing the alliance’s movement eastward as a threat to its national security and as a significant factor in the ongoing conflict with Kiev. The Kremlin has asserted that Ukraine must adopt a neutral stance in any forthcoming peace agreement.
This is not the first occasion Trump has shown empathy toward Russia's viewpoint. Last month, while speaking to reporters in Florida, he noted that Moscow’s position on NATO had been “written in stone.”
He reiterated this perspective after a lengthy phone discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, marking their first confirmed communication since Trump resumed his presidency last month.
On the same day, Trump also spoke with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky following his call with Putin. However, his decision to openly discuss a potential peace plan with the Russian president has reportedly left officials in Kiev and the EU feeling marginalized.
The US president announced that he and Putin have agreed to initiate talks aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict and suggested that a meeting between the two leaders could occur soon. After the call, the Kremlin confirmed its willingness to engage in peace discussions but emphasized the necessity of addressing the conflict’s underlying causes for any lasting resolution.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump has endorsed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks, indicating that Ukraine must recognize the impracticality of reverting to pre-2014 borders and that NATO membership for Ukraine is not an option.
On Wednesday, Hegseth labeled Kiev's aspirations for NATO membership and the recovery of all lost territories as “unrealistic,” emphasizing the necessity for Ukraine to prepare for a negotiated peace potentially supported by international forces. The following day, he dismissed allegations that the US is “betraying” Ukraine as baseless.
When reporters sought his opinion on Hegseth's statements, Trump remarked, “I don’t see any way that a country in Russia’s position could allow them, just in their position, could allow them to join NATO. I don’t see that happening,” attributing the conflict to his predecessor Joe Biden’s backing of Ukraine’s NATO goals.
Pressed on whether he encouraged Hegseth to temper his statements to maintain “bargaining chips,” Trump responded at the White House that he had not done so.
“Somebody told me to, but I thought his comments were good yesterday. They’re probably good today. They’re a little bit softer, perhaps. But I thought his comments from yesterday were pretty accurate,” Trump remarked.
Moscow has consistently rejected Ukraine’s intentions regarding NATO, characterizing the alliance’s movement eastward as a threat to its national security and as a significant factor in the ongoing conflict with Kiev. The Kremlin has asserted that Ukraine must adopt a neutral stance in any forthcoming peace agreement.
This is not the first occasion Trump has shown empathy toward Russia's viewpoint. Last month, while speaking to reporters in Florida, he noted that Moscow’s position on NATO had been “written in stone.”
He reiterated this perspective after a lengthy phone discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, marking their first confirmed communication since Trump resumed his presidency last month.
On the same day, Trump also spoke with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky following his call with Putin. However, his decision to openly discuss a potential peace plan with the Russian president has reportedly left officials in Kiev and the EU feeling marginalized.
The US president announced that he and Putin have agreed to initiate talks aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict and suggested that a meeting between the two leaders could occur soon. After the call, the Kremlin confirmed its willingness to engage in peace discussions but emphasized the necessity of addressing the conflict’s underlying causes for any lasting resolution.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
