US troops will not be used to secure Ukraine peace following ceasefire deal with Putin, Trump’s defence secretary tells allies
The US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth tells allies that, with Donald Trump as
US president, it is “unrealistic” to think Ukraine can return to its pre-2014
borders and America must focus on the threat posed by China and securing its own
borders.
Security and Defence Editor @haynesdeborah [http://twitter.com/@haynesdeborah]
Wednesday 12 February 2025 14:10, UK
US troops will not be used to secure the peace in Ukraine following any
ceasefire deal with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump’s new defence secretary has
declared, as he signalled a dramatic shift in American foreign and defence
policy away from Europe.
Pete Hegseth also said it is “unrealistic” to think Ukraine can return to its
pre-2014 borders and he ruled out NATO membership as way to guarantee Kyiv’s
security.
This will be a huge blow for Volodymyr Zelenskyy
[https://news.sky.com/topic/volodymyr-zelenskyy-10031].
The interventions came at the opening of a meeting of allies in Brussels on
Wednesday.
Follow live: Ukraine war latest
[https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-war-latest-putin-trump-moscow-zelenskyy-kremlin-live-sky-news-latest-12541713]
Mr Hegseth said Washington must focus on the threat posed by China and securing
its own borders.
He added: “Stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from
being primarily focused on the security of Europe.
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“As the United States shifts its attention to these threats, European allies
must lead from the front,” Mr Hegseth said in opening remarks at the gathering
of NATO and non-NATO countries that are providing military support to Ukraine.
NATO spending
Mr Trump – a long-time critic of the alliance, which he sees as containing
freeloaders that benefit from American military strength without investing in
their own security – has said all NATO allies should increase defence spending
to 5% of GDP.
This is more than double the current target. The UK is only spending 2.3%.
While still supportive of NATO, Mr Hegseth warned that America’s patience was
limited.
“Our transatlantic alliance has endured for decades. And we fully expect it will
sustained for generations more. But this won’t just happen,” he said.
He continued: “It will require our European allies to step into the arena and
take ownership of conventional security on this continent.
“The United States remains committed to the NATO alliance and to the defence
partnership with Europe.
“Our relationship will prioritise empowering Europe to own responsibility for
its security.”
Ukraine-Russia war
Mr Hegseth also had strong words about Russia’s war in Ukraine, which he said
“must end”.
Speaking frankly, he dismissed a fundamental Ukrainian goal to recapture all its
territory – including Crimea and swathes of the Donbas that were seized by
Russia in 2014 when Mr Putin first invaded his neighbour. This aim had
previously been backed by the UK and other allies.
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“We want… a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognising
that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective,” he
said.
“Chasing this illusory goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”
The US defence secretary said that a durable peace must include robust security
guarantees to ensure that the war won’t begin again – but he made clear that the
US would not be part of that effort on the ground and it could not be a NATO
operation.
It was not immediately clear, however, whether the US military may help to
provide protection from a distance.
“These security guarantees should not be provided through NATO membership, but
must instead be backed by capable European and non-European troops,” the US
defence secretary said.
“If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they
should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission and not covered under Article
5. There also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact.”
Article 5 of NATO says an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on
all.
Read more: What is Article 5?
[https://news.sky.com/story/what-nato-articles-4-and-5-say-and-why-are-they-important-to-the-poland-missile-strike-12748438]
Mr Hegseth continued: “To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there
will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine.”
His words will be a significant setback for Kyiv.
President Zelenskyy told Sky News last week that any peacekeeping force that did
not include a US element would be a “major mistake”
[https://news.sky.com/story/volodymyr-zelenskyy-says-any-peacekeeping-force-for-ukraine-without-us-troops-would-be-major-mistake-13303695],
signalling that he did not believe European militaries alone could deter Moscow.
The retreat of the US from its leadership role in Ukraine was clear in the
choreography of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting – an alignment of
allies gathered together by Washington under Joe Biden and his defence secretary
Loyd Austin after Russia launched its full-scale invasion almost exactly three
years ago.
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Future of European security
The regular meetings have until now always been chaired by the US.
Wednesday’s meeting, however, was led by John Healey, the UK defence secretary.
Mr Hegseth made clear that European allies would need to step up and take on
much more of the effort to provide Ukraine with weapons and non-military
support.
“Safeguarding European security is an imperative for European members of NATO.
As part of this, Europe must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and
nonlethal aid to Ukraine,” he said.
This means donating more ammunition, expanding Europe’s defence industrial base
and rallying the public to be willing to respond to the threat the continent
faces.
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“Part of this is speaking frankly with your people about how this threat can
only be met by spending more on defence and investing strategically,” Mr Hegseth
said.
“Increasing your commitment to your own security is a down payment for the
future.”
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he agreed with US president
Donald Trump on the need for Washington and European allies to share the burden
of military aid for Ukraine more equally.
