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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said that “everything is on the table” as the Trump administration begins negotiations seeking to end the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Some shit you should know before you read: Yesterday, while speaking at the NATO defense ministerial in Brussels, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement to end the war with Russia. He argued that insisting on Ukraine joining the alliance would only prolong the war and increase suffering rather than lead to a durable peace. This marked a major reversal from the Biden administration’s stance, which left the door open for Ukraine’s future NATO membership as a long-term security guarantee. Hegseth’s reversal has sparked outrage among some EU & NATO members.

What’s going on now: In response to pushback from his comments that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not a realistic outcome of peace, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended his position, insisting that acknowledging geopolitical realities is not the same as making concessions to Russia. “I think realism is an important part of the conversation that hasn’t existed enough inside conversations amongst friends,” Hegseth said. He pushed back against critics who argued that his statement undermined Ukraine’s leverage, stating, “Simply pointing out realism—like the borders won’t be rolled back to what everybody would like them to be in 2014—is not a concession to Vladimir Putin. It’s a recognition of the hard power realities on the ground after a lot of investment and sacrifice.”

Hegseth also stressed that President Trump is leading the negotiations and that all options remain open. “These negotiations are led by President Trump. Everything is on the table. In his conversations with Vladimir Putin and Zelensky. What he decides to allow or not allow is at the purview of the leader of the free world — President Trump.” Hegseth added, “There is no betrayal here. There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States is invested and interested in peace, a negotiated peace, as President Trump has said—stopping the killing.”

Calls for NATO: In addition to pushing back on criticism, Secretary Hegseth also reiterated President Trump’s calls for NATO allies to significantly increase their defense spending, arguing that the alliance “can’t endure on the status quo.” He stressed that European nations must take greater responsibility for their own security, noting, “Leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for the defense of the continent. That begins with increasing defense spending.” Hegseth echoed Trump’s long-standing view that the current NATO commitment of 2% of GDP is insufficient, saying, “2 percent is a start, as President Trump has said, but it’s not enough. Nor is 3 percent, nor is 4 percent—more like 5 percent. Real investment, real urgency.” He warned that the United States faces its own security challenges and can no longer be the primary guarantor of European defense.

This all comes as Russian state media has framed President Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin and Secretary Hegseth’s dismissal of Ukraine’s NATO membership as a major victory for the Kremlin. Russian commentators have praised the shift in U.S. policy, arguing that Washington is now acknowledging Moscow’s demands and signaling a willingness to negotiate on terms favorable to Russia. State-controlled outlets have highlighted Hegseth’s remarks as proof that the United States no longer sees NATO expansion to Ukraine as a priority, with some analysts calling it a “strategic win” for Putin.