I'm not debating that point. There are important nuances but not for our purposes. I'm pointing out that Hegseth/Trump don't have the leverage they think they have. Ukraine won't sign something that leaves the country invaded in 2026 again. US cutting funding to zero won't change that. US support (and Trump's backing) is still very important of course, and Zelensky will keep playing the Trump game no matter setbacks. I think this is more about Trump's ego than anything. He promised peace in 24 h and it's going to be following him for a long time. But he's not in the position to unilaterally declare peace.
US and EU leaders now admitting that getting back Crimea, and Ukraine joining NATO, are not realistic given Russia's security concerns. In other words, maybe surrounding Russia with NATO missiles wasn't a good idea in the first place.
First of all, it's always about Trump's ego. Let's not forget that. Second, in no time at all, the Ukraine is going to run out of money, and they'll be throwing rocks. Oh, sure, the EU will "step in" and help out for about 16 seconds until they realize it's not a fight they can pick up, and their populace won't like it anyway. Nah, it's over but the crying right now. Watch what happens when Trump removes sanctions on Russia (that never really did what they were supposed to anyway), and Russia gets a cash flow.
The way US fights and wins wars is by sending the enemy into poverty. Trump will do everything imo to prevent Russia's poverty, hence the removal of sanctions. Imo, Trump will gain by Putin granting him realestate in Moscow.
those delusional nazis will still think ukraine winning when ukraine will be officially parted and zelensky beheaded on central square in kiev
And those who hate Pete Hegseth said he is not qualified to be Secretary of Defense? He more and acquitted himself today. Telling NATO to pay up for their defense. Support Ukraine and pay up some more in the process. The days of the US being the ATM of NATO and Ukraine is over! Add to that calling out the delusions of NATO making Ukraine a NATO member and Ukraine not giving up territory to Russia that Russia has already effectively, taken.
Trump and TV commentator Hegseth are nothing more than Putin puppets. A peace proposal that lets Russia seize large portions of Ukraine and strips Ukraine of any future protection is not going to be accepted by the European community. If the U.S. will not step up to fund and arm Ukraine then the European countries will do it themselves -- since they know they are the next targets of Putin's aggression. Policies of appeasement never work. Pete Hegseth Gives Russia Alarming Win on Ukraine War Donald Trump’s defense secretary just ceded two major points to Russian President Vladimir Putin https://newrepublic.com/post/191444/pete-hegseth-russia-win-ukraine-nato The Trump administration’s Ukraine policy is off to a poor start. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is visiting Europe, and met with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group Wednesday in London, immediately telling U.S. allies that liberating all of Russia’s occupied Ukrainian territory “is an unrealistic objective.” Then it got even worse, with Hegseth telling the alliance of 57 countries, including all 32 members of NATO, that “the United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement. “Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops,” Hegseth added. Hegseth seems to have given up two main points to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including a key piece of leverage in future negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. One of Putin’s major complaints about Ukraine has been the prospect of the country joining NATO along with the rest of Eastern Europe. Coupled with Donald Trump’s comments on the release of American Marc Fogel from a Russian prison Tuesday, where he claimed “we were treated very nicely by Russia,” Hegseth’s remarks suggest the new administration will prioritize better relations with Putin over defending Ukrainian sovereignty. The deal to secure Fogel’s release raises questions too, as a suspected Russian cybercrime kingpin was part of the swap. While campaigning for president, Trump boasted that he could end the war in Ukraine within “24 hours.” Shortly after Trump’s election, Russia shot down that idea, and even boosted its troop numbers days later. The president’s choice for special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, has in the past suggested withholding aid for Ukraine in order to force negotiations with Russia, something Trump did just days into his presidency. In the past few weeks, Trump has said he will use tariffs as leverage against Russia and shaken down Ukraine for its natural resources in exchange for continued support. All of this doesn’t bode well for the future of Ukraine, which seeks not only to end Russian occupation of its land but also better relations with the U.S. and Europe instead of a subservient relationship with Russia. Trump seems more concerned with keeping Putin happy and getting a payoff.