US defence chief: Decision on nuclear aid to Ukraine rests with Trump

United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that he is not ruling out nuclear weapons for Ukraine but emphasized that the final decision rests with President Donald Trump.

“I’m not here to declare anything on or off the table. That’s the president’s job. He’s the leader, he’s the master negotiator,” Hegseth said in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, as per Caliber.Az.

His comments follow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for either NATO membership or nuclear weapons as a security guarantee. However, Hegseth made clear that NATO accession for Ukraine is not currently realistic.

On February 12, he outlined key US positions ahead of potential peace talks, stating that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is “unrealistic,” no US troops will be deployed, and any European peacekeeping force should not be under NATO to avoid triggering Article 5.

Hegseth’s remarks, which dampened some of Zelenskyy’s hopes, sparked concern in Europe, where leaders rely on US military support for Ukraine. However, he insisted his statements were not “red lines” but a reflection of reality.

“I work with the president as we work through these issues, but we believed it was useful to speak some reality into the conversation,” he said. “Ultimately, President Trump is the only one who’s gonna determine if there’s movement on any position.”

Hegseth dismissed criticism that Trump negotiating with Russia signals weakness, arguing the talks are happening because of Trump’s strength.

“In 2014, Putin invaded under Obama. Nothing happened for four years under Trump. Then in 2022, you get the invasion under Biden. Now, with Trump back, the conversation shifts,” he said.

Hegseth insisted Trump always negotiates from a position of strength.

“The one thing you have to know about Trump is that he’s a dealmaker. He won’t fold — he understands both sides’ incentives,” he said.

He also dismissed critics of a non-NATO peacekeeping mission, saying, “What is your idea — endless trench warfare?”

Hegseth emphasized his role is just one part of a broader US strategy, with other top officials also engaging with Ukraine’s leadership.

By Tamilla Hasanova