Two of President Donald Trump’s top advisers declined to describe Russia as the aggressor in the war in Ukraine, as the administration seeks Vladimir Putin’s support for a peace deal.

The call has raised concerns among some European leaders that Ukraine could effectively be sidelined in any peace negotiations.

President Trump's surprise phone call with Vladimir Putin, just hours later, only added salt to the wound. Why it matters: Europe has been bracing for this moment since the early days of Trump's 2024 campaign.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned NATO allies Thursday both to “take primary responsibility” for the defense of Europe — and that spending anything below 5% of annual gross domestic product on their militaries is “not enough.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz both refused to call Russia the aggressor in the Ukrainian war, in separate interviews three years after Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave away a major bargaining chip on Ukraine even before negotiating a settlement to end its war with Russia, according to some experts.The Pentagon chief spoke Wednesday morning before a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and said the possibility of

Bream had already pressed Hegseth about a reluctance among Trump administration officials to state in no uncertain terms that Russia was the aggressor.

Appearing on Fox News on Feb. 23, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to acknowledge that Russia started the war with Ukraine, telling host Shannon Bream that "it's a very complicated situation.

Remarks by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are fueling concerns that the U.S. will move away from Europe and align with Moscow.

Ukraine’s President Zelensky is vowing that his war-torn nation isn’t accepting any deals made between Russia and the U.S. without his involvement. Mixed messaging from Trump, Vance, and Hegseth makes the future of Ukraine’s NATO membership uncertain.

The United States sending troops to Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion is an option that's "on the table" if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not negotiate in good faith to arrive at a peace deal,

Pro-Ukraine voices are harshly critical of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he took returning Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders off the table in peace negotiations with Russia.