Pete Hegseth to NATO: Pre-2014 Ukraine borders "no longer viable"

In his first trip to NATO and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a blunt message to allies: NATO membership for Ukraine is no longer a feasible goal, and the path forward should involve Ukraine accepting a negotiated settlement with Russia.

Speaking Wednesday, Hegseth emphasized the need for Ukraine to shift focus away from restoring its pre-2014 borders and instead work toward a diplomatic resolution supported by an international peacekeeping force.

Hegseth’s remarks come as the world anticipates how much military and financial support the U.S. will continue to provide to Ukraine’s war effort. The Secretary of Defense made clear that President Donald Trump is pushing European nations to take on the lion’s share of financial and military commitments for Ukraine’s defense, which may include peacekeeping troops that would not be U.S.-led.

He also made it clear that any such peacekeeping force should not fall under NATO’s Article Five protections, meaning U.S. forces would not be drawn into direct conflict with Russia.

“The members of this contact group must meet the moment,” Hegseth urged, addressing the gathering of roughly 50 countries supporting Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. His comments come just weeks before the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, and as many of the U.S.’s European allies worry about the long-term implications of the war.

CNN contributed to this article.