Shorouk Express
France was also at odds with the American position, insisting Ukraine should remain on a path to joining NATO. Earlier, Hegseth had effectively ruled that out, at least as part of any security guarantee accompanying a peace deal. He also ruled out the participation of U.S. troops in any peacekeeping mission, and said NATO as an organization should not be involved.
“We are very attached to a pathway for Ukraine towards NATO. If there is a peace, we need security guarantees so that it is fair and lasting,” said Jean-Noël Barrot, the French foreign minister. “It’s European security that is at stake with this war of aggression — that has upset the world order and means we cannot return to the world before the invasion.”
In his announcement, Trump said a team will begin talking with Putin’s representatives straightaway. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be joined by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz as part of the American negotiating team. “I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!” Trump said.
Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the foreign relations committee in the Ukrainian parliament, said Hegseth’s comments were “illogical.”
“The new security secretary should simply start by coming to Ukraine and getting acquainted with the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Merezhko said. “Ukraine can return all of its territory, this is absolutely real. But for this to happen, more military-technical assistance from the United States and stronger sanctions are needed — in particular, U.S. financial sanctions against the Russian economy.”
British officials said they agreed that Europe should do more. “We hear you,” U.K. Defense Minister John Healey said in response to Hegseth’s comments. “On stepping up for Ukraine, we are and we will. On stepping up for European security, we are and we will.”
Veronika Melkozerova and Gabriel Gavin contributed to this report.
