U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: “Peace Through Strength — Europe Must Lead in Defending Ukraine”
#PeteHegseth #NATO #UDCG
At the NATO–Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a commanding and unapologetically firm address, urging European allies to take greater responsibility for the continent’s defence and for Ukraine’s security. Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, UK Defence Secretary John Healey, and Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, Hegseth underscored Washington’s commitment but made clear that Europe must “lead the conventional defence of its own continent.”
“Over the past few months, European investment in Ukraine’s defence has increased significantly,” Hegseth said, “but Europe must continue to take primary responsibility.” He reaffirmed that the United States will continue to do its part, but also “constructively remind allies of their Article 3 obligations” — the NATO clause requiring each member to develop its own capacity to resist armed attack through “continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid.”
Hegseth credited President Donald Trump’s leadership for galvanizing allies to take those obligations seriously, saying that “since his first term, we are seeing in real time allies step up — including in Ukraine.”
Central to Hegseth’s remarks was NATO’s Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) — a new funding initiative that he described as the “key mechanism to forge peace in Ukraine.” In his words: “Europe pays, the U.S. provides the world’s best equipment, and Ukraine gets the capabilities it needs to fight.”
He explained that under this model, General Grinkovich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, validates Ukraine’s requests, and then the U.S. War Department assesses and delivers the approved aid. Since August, NATO allies have already contributed over $2 billion in security assistance through PURL.
Praising Germany, Poland, and several Baltic and Nordic states for meeting or approaching their 5% defence investment commitments, Hegseth urged others to follow suit. “No free riders,” he said pointedly. “All countries need to translate goals into guns, commitments into capabilities, and pledges into power. That’s all that matters — hard power.”
Hegseth also confirmed that Europe’s political leaders have endorsed military planning for a future multinational “coalition of the willing,” which could deploy once a peace arrangement is reached — sending what he called “a clear message to Russia to end this tragic war and stop the needless bloodshed.”
But he also issued a stern warning: “If this war does not end, and there is no path to peace in the short term, the United States and our allies will take the steps necessary to impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression.”
He concluded with a direct appeal for unity and determination, invoking Trump’s diplomatic record: “Like we saw him do in Gaza and the Middle East, President Trump knows how to forge peace where it seems far off. This war did not start on his watch — but it will end on his watch.”
Hegseth closed with his central message — the same theme running through his entire speech: “Peace through strength.”
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