US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has strongly dismissed claims that the Trump administration has adopted a pro-Russia stance amid ongoing efforts to secure a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
The remarks come as Ukraine and the US prepare for talks in Saudi Arabia next week, despite concerns that Trump’s approach favours Moscow.
‘It’s All Garbage’
Speaking at the Pentagon alongside UK Defence Secretary John Healey, Hegseth rebuked suggestions that the White House was aligning with the Kremlin:
“The press is interested in narratives. Our president is interested in peace. So we will get characterised one way or another: ‘Oh, your stance is pro-Russia or pro-’ … it’s all garbage.”
He went on to defend Trump’s strategy, stating:
“The President got elected to bring peace in this conflict, and he is working with both sides in a way that only President Trump can … to bring them to the table to end the killing.”
Trump’s Stance on Ukraine
Since returning to the White House, Trump has:
- Refused to label Russia as the aggressor in the war.
- Paused all US military and intelligence aid to Ukraine.
- Pushed for Ukraine to engage in peace talks, with the goal of ending the war quickly.
These moves have raised concerns in Kyiv and Western capitals that any potential peace deal could be more beneficial to Moscow than to Ukraine. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to meet US officials in Saudi Arabia next week to discuss negotiations.
Russia’s Reaction
The Kremlin has responded positively to the shift in US policy. Over the weekend, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump’s “common sense” approach, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed comments made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio recently stated that Washington views the war as a “proxy conflict between nuclear powers”, Russia and the US, with Ukraine at the centre.
Peskov endorsed the statement, saying:
“We can and want to agree with it, and we agree with it. That’s the way it is. We have said this repeatedly. This is actually a conflict between Russia and the collective West. And the main country of the collective West is the United States of America.”
France and Britain’s Alternative Plan
While the US pursues negotiations, France and the UK have reportedly discussed a peace proposal that could involve deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.
Russia has rejected the idea outright, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing Europe of trying to prolong the war.
“In reality, we are dealing with an open desire to achieve a respite at any cost for the Kyiv regime in its death throes, for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and to prevent the collapse of the front.”
Zakharova insisted that only firm agreements on a final settlement would be acceptable, warning against any “temporary ceasefire” that could allow Ukraine to regroup its forces.
A Defining Moment in US-Ukraine Relations
With US-Ukraine talks scheduled next week, Trump’s strategy of negotiation over military support will face its first major test. As European allies explore alternative solutions, the future of Western unity in Ukraine remains uncertain.