German defence chief: Trump making concessions to Putin before Ukraine talks begin

The recent telephone discussions between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Ukrainian crisis became the focal point at the NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels.

According to reports by Israeli media, the US administration's stance was sharply criticized by several European defence leaders, per Caliber.Az.

British Defence Minister John Healey strongly opposed the idea of negotiating Ukraine's future without its involvement. “Negotiations on Ukraine without Ukrainian participation are inadmissible,” he stated. Healey emphasized that NATO’s primary goal remains to strengthen Ukraine’s position in any potential settlement. “We must not forget that it is not only Ukraine that Russia threatens,” he added.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to Ukraine’s future, declaring that NATO membership remains a possibility for Ukraine. “Our position is unchanged, and we declared it at the Washington summit: the future of Ukraine in NATO, but it will require several conditions,” he said.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, meanwhile, underlined the necessity of optimal negotiating conditions for Ukraine. “We all wish peace for Ukraine, but it will require the best possible negotiating conditions. Putin must not be allowed to seize a single square kilometre of Ukrainian land in the future,” he stated. Rutte also called on NATO members to ramp up defence production.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Trump’s stance, clarifying his earlier comments about the impossibility of reverting to the 2014 borders. Hegseth stated, “It is not a betrayal of Ukraine.” He emphasized that the US has contributed $300 billion in aid to Ukraine and insisted that Trump is the sole candidate who can bring about peace.

However, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius criticized Trump’s concessions to Putin even before formal negotiations have begun. “The talks have not yet started and Trump is already making concessions to Putin,” Pistorius said. “Both possible territorial concessions and possible NATO membership can be talked about at the negotiating table,” he added.

By Tamilla Hasanova