Peace push ‘not a betrayal’ of Ukraine, US defence secretary Hegseth insists, saying Russian aggression was a ‘manufacturing facility reset’ for Nato
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has simply been talking to reporters earlier than at this time’s Nato defence ministers assembly in Brussels.
He mentioned that the Russian aggression on Ukraine was “a factory reset for Nato,” and a second of “realisation that this alliance needs to be robust, strong, and real.”
“That is why president Trump has called for increased defence spending across the board for Nato, for European countries to recognise this is an urgent, real threat to the continent and this aggression needs to be a wake up call,” he mentioned.
He says that standing as much as Russian aggression is “an important European responsibility.”
He praises Trump as “the best negotiator on the planet” for bringing each side to the desk in pursuit of peace.
However he will get confronted by reporters with strategies that the fast push to peace and talks with Putin could possibly be seen as amounting to a betrayal of Ukraine.
“That is your language, not mine. Certainly not a betrayal,” he insists.
“There is no betrayal; there is a recognition that the whole world and the US is invested in peace, in a negotiated peace,” he says.
Key occasions
We’d like ‘a simply and sturdy peace,’ Canada’s defence minister says
… and listed here are early feedback from Canadian defence minister Invoice Blair:
We met because the Ukraine Defence Contact Group … we had a vital and frank dialogue about our unity and help.
Canada is resolved that we’ll be there for Ukraine to make sure a simply and a sturdy peace. …
I believe…over the previous virtually three years the alliance has been remarkably robust and resolved to offer Ukraine with the instruments they should defend themselves in opposition to the unlawful invasion that was perpetrated in opposition to that nation. That resolve stays.
However we’re additionally watching very rigorously. Now we have obtained the continued discussions between the president and Mr Putin. It’s important from our perspective that Ukraine have to be a part of that negotiation and we’re going to proceed to help them to be within the strongest attainable place.
Ukrainians are the frontline of freedom, UK defence minister says
UK defence secretary John Healey, who chaired yesterday’s Ukraine Defence Contact Group, additionally has been talking to the media.
That is what he mentioned:
They’re the frontline of freedom, and our job is … to put Ukraine within the strongest attainable place for any speak.
We shall be persevering with these discussions as Nato allies, and you will note new bulletins of help for Ukraine via Nato.
Now we have seen the calls from president Trump in a single day. All of us need to see a sturdy peace and no return to battle and aggression, and let’s not overlook. Russia stays a risk properly past Ukraine.
My message shall be there might be no negotiation about Ukraine with out Ukraine, and Ukraine’s voice have to be on the coronary heart of any talks.
‘Clear convergence’ on peace in Ukraine, Rutte says
Ever a diplomat, Nato secretary basic Mark Rutte opted for an artwork of understatement saying “clearly a lot happened yesterday,” and admitting this “will be debated today and over the coming days and weeks.”
However he tried to search for positives, stressing that “there is also a clear convergence emerging that we all want peace in Ukraine, rather sooner than later.”
“We all want Ukraine to be in the best possible position when those talks start to make sure they can be concluded successfully,” he added.
“It is crucial that whatever comes out of these talks is durable and enduring. … We cannot have Putin again trying to capture a square mile of Ukraine in the future,” he mentioned.
Peace push ‘not a betrayal’ of Ukraine, US defence secretary Hegseth insists, saying Russian aggression was a ‘manufacturing facility reset’ for Nato
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has simply been talking to reporters earlier than at this time’s Nato defence ministers assembly in Brussels.
He mentioned that the Russian aggression on Ukraine was “a factory reset for Nato,” and a second of “realisation that this alliance needs to be robust, strong, and real.”
“That is why president Trump has called for increased defence spending across the board for Nato, for European countries to recognise this is an urgent, real threat to the continent and this aggression needs to be a wake up call,” he mentioned.
He says that standing as much as Russian aggression is “an important European responsibility.”
He praises Trump as “the best negotiator on the planet” for bringing each side to the desk in pursuit of peace.
However he will get confronted by reporters with strategies that the fast push to peace and talks with Putin could possibly be seen as amounting to a betrayal of Ukraine.
“That is your language, not mine. Certainly not a betrayal,” he insists.
“There is no betrayal; there is a recognition that the whole world and the US is invested in peace, in a negotiated peace,” he says.
Morning opening: What’s subsequent for Europe?
Jakub Krupa
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth is ready to satisfy dozens of his counterparts at a Nato assembly in Brussels, a day after the US president, Donald Trump, mentioned he had spoken to Russia’s Vladimir Putin about negotiating an finish to the warfare.
Trump mentioned he had spoken for greater than an hour with Putin and that the 2 males anticipate to satisfy in particular person in Saudi Arabia quickly. He mentioned he later spoke to Volodymyr Zelenskyy and denied that he was “freezing out” the Ukrainian president.
Zelenskyy – at the very least in public – provided help for the talks, saying he and Trump had held a “meaningful” dialog by telephone. “No one wants peace more than Ukraine,” he wrote.
However the improvement got here simply hours after Hegseth instructed a world assembly of Ukraine’s backers on Wednesday not solely that Kyiv couldn’t realistically hope to return to earlier borders or be part of Nato – an indication of issues to come back from Trump later – but in addition that the US was not “primarily focused” on European safety.
So the important thing query for Europe is: what subsequent?
When requested if any European international locations can be concerned in peace talks, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned: “I don’t have any European nations who are involved currently to read out for you.”
That is precisely the nightmare situation that Zelenskyy explicitly warned Europe in opposition to throughout his World Financial Discussion board speech final month.
“It’s not clear whether or not Europe will also have a seat when the warfare in opposition to our nation ends. … We’re deeply grateful to Europe for all of the help … however will president Trump hearken to Europe, or will he negotiate with Russia, China, with out Europe?,” he requested.
We heard a lot of statements from European countries overnight insisting that no decisions can be made without Ukraine, and that the priority should now be on putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position before these talks start.
But during this morning’s meeting in Nato, there will be lots of questions asked as to what else can be done among European partners – or if it is too late now.
It’s Thursday, 13 February 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
Good morning.
