Pentagon chief says Europe must take on greater share of military aid to Ukraine

Oleksandr Shumilin, Iryna Kutielieva — 12 February, 17:32
Pentagon chief says Europe must take on greater share of military aid to Ukraine
Pete Hegseth. Stock photo: Getty Images

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that Europe should take responsibility for providing the majority of lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukraine in the future.

Source: Hegseth in his speech at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein Group) in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Hegseth emphasised that "safeguarding European security must be an imperative for European members of NATO".

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That is why, he added, Europe "must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukraine".

Quote: "This means donating more ammunition and equipment, leveraging comparative advantages, expanding your defence industrial base and, importantly, levelling with your citizens about the threat facing Europe."

Background: 

  • Hegseth stated that European countries should follow Poland’s example in defence spending.
  • Hegseth also said that a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is not a realistic goal, and that the US does not consider NATO membership for Ukraine a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement of the war.

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