The new US Secretary of Defence has categorically ruled out granting NATO membership to Ukraine as a security guarantee to end Russia's war.
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00:00U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said Ukraine's desire to return to its pre-2014
00:07borders and its potential membership of NATO are unrealistic objectives.
00:12His comments came during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels,
00:17which consists of 46 nations.
00:20But we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic
00:27objective.
00:29Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.
00:35That said, the United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic
00:43outcome of a negotiated settlement."
00:46Hegseth also stressed that President Donald Trump's top priority is to end the war using
00:52diplomatic means by bringing both Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.
00:58However, he added that any future peacekeeping forces would not include U.S. troops and that
01:03a prospective peace deal shouldn't include NATO's Article 5 protections, which trigger
01:08assistance from the U.S. or NATO members if they come into contact with Russian forces.