Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO and reclaim all its pre-2014 territory is "unrealistic," according to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, signalling a major shift in Washington’s approach to European security under President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, Hegseth stated that the US would no longer be "primarily focused" on European security and urged European allies to take the lead in supporting Ukraine. He emphasised that European NATO members must provide "the overwhelming share" of future military aid to Kyiv, as Washington pivots its strategic focus towards countering China and reinforcing its own national security.

Hegseth’s remarks mark a clear departure from the approach taken under President Joe Biden, whose administration championed Ukraine’s NATO membership as a long-term goal, providing significant military aid and diplomatic backing. However, with Trump back in office, the White House appears to be recalibrating US priorities, prioritising an end to the war through negotiations rather than continued military confrontation.

In contrast to statements made by Biden administration officials, Hegseth described Kyiv’s goal of restoring its pre-2014 borders—including Crimea and Russian-occupied regions in eastern Ukraine—as unachievable.

“Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering,” he said, suggesting that Ukraine and its Western allies should instead focus on securing alternative security arrangements.

A major element of this shift involves the US reducing its role in Ukraine’s security guarantees. Hegseth ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, stating that the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defence clause—where an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all—should not apply to Kyiv. Instead, he proposed that "capable European and non-European troops" should provide security guarantees. He also made it clear that any future deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine should be part of a non-NATO mission and would not receive the same collective defence commitments.

“To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine,” he stated.

Hegseth’s comments align with Trump’s broader push for European NATO members to take on a larger role in their own security. He reiterated Trump’s long-standing criticism that Europe has been overly reliant on US military support, calling on NATO allies to increase their defence budgets to at least 5% of GDP. He cited Poland as a model for higher defence spending, contrasting it with other NATO members that have yet to meet the current 2% benchmark.

This shift in US policy raises questions about the long-term unity and effectiveness of NATO. While Washington has not outright abandoned European security, the demand for significantly increased European defence spending and military contributions signals a move towards a more transactional relationship between the US and its allies.

Washington’s new pragmatic stance on NATO and territorial concessions contrasts sharply with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s insistence that NATO membership is essential for Ukraine’s security and that Kyiv will not agree to cede any of its territory as part of a peace deal. Zelenskiy has repeatedly argued that, without American involvement, European security guarantees would not be sufficient to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression.

Despite this, Hegseth’s remarks suggest that the US is pushing for a negotiated settlement, which would likely involve Ukraine making concessions on its territorial claims. Meanwhile, Russia continues to press forward militarily, having gained ground in eastern Ukraine in recent months.