Pentagon chief: Ukraine’s Pre-2014 Borders Not a Realistic Goal

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic goal, according to the European Pravda.

He also noted that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is not considered by the United States as a realistic outcome of a peaceful settlement of the war.

Hegseth emphasized that U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to end the war in Ukraine through diplomatic means, but called for a realistic assessment of the situation.

“We can put an end to this destructive war and achieve a lasting peace… But to do so, we need to soberly assess the situation on the battlefield. We, like you, want to see Ukraine sovereign and prosperous. At the same time, we must recognize that a return to the 2014 borders is an unrealistic goal,” the Pentagon chief said. According to him, attempts to achieve this will only prolong war and suffering.

Hegseth stated that a lasting peace in Ukraine must be based on reliable security guarantees that would prevent the war from starting again.

“This should not be Minsk 3.0,” he stressed.

He noted that the United States does not consider Ukraine’s membership in NATO a realistic outcome of the negotiation process.

At the same time, he said, any security guarantees should be based on combat-ready forces from both European and non-European countries.

“If such troops are deployed as peacekeepers in Ukraine, it should be outside the framework of NATO and not covered by Article 5. Reliable international control over the contact line is also an important element,” the U.S. Secretary of Defense said.

At the same time, he stated that “American troops will not be deployed in Ukraine” under any security guarantees.

On February 11, it was reported that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump plans to push European countries to buy more American weapons for Ukraine.

This is expected to improve Ukraine’s position before possible peace talks with Russia.

This is one of several ideas being discussed in the Trump administration to potentially continue arms supplies to Kyiv without spending significant US budgetary funds.