Hegseth further said that the U.S. ‘does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome for a negotiated settlement.’

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders was unrealistic and the Trump administration does not see NATO membership for Kyiv as part of a solution to the war triggered by Russia's invasion.

In his first trip abroad, the new U.S. defense secretary told allies, including NATO officials, that a durable peace could only come ‘with a realistic assessment of the battlefield.’

Defense Secretary Hegseth said it was “unrealistic” to aim for a return to Ukraine’s borders as they were before 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says it is "unrealistic" to expect Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders and that Europe should take the lead in defending Ukraine.

The defense secretary's remarks further demonstrated the Trump administration's belief that Ukraine will have to cede territory to negotiate an end to the war.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and in sweeping remarks suggested that the country should abandon hopes of returning to its pre-2014 borders and prepare for a negotiated settlement with Russia that would be backed up by international troops.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and suggested Kyiv should abandon hopes of winning all its territory back from Russia.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said "returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective" during his first visit to NATO headquarters.

New Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has commented on Ukraine’s return to its pre-2014 borders, calling it unrealistic, according to Sky News. The Pentagon chief stated that "the bloodshed must stop," emphasizing that US President Donald Trump wants to end Russia’s war against Ukraine through diplomatic means.