WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters after meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on December 5, 2024 in Washington, DC. Hegseth continues to meet with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill as new allegations of alcohol abuse have emerged. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
In his first trip to Europe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a return to Ukraine’s pre-war borders was “unrealistic,” seemingly giving a key concession to Russia before the start of peace talks.
“Hegseth is going to be a great defense secretary, although he wasn’t my choice for the job. But he made a rookie mistake in Brussels, and he’s walked back some of what he said but not that line,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
This week, President Donald Trump held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war, and Vance will meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky today.
Trump suggested this week that NATO’s enlargement was what prompted Russia to invade Ukraine.
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Wicker has been a leading advocate for Ukraine aid and pushed the Biden administration in its last days to lift restrictions stopping Ukraine from using U.S. weapons to strike Russian territory.
Wicker said not supplying Ukraine with arms could force American troops into future wars.
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