Following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the future of Ukraine, US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth’s comments on the “unrealistic” return to the internationally guaranteed borders have sparked criticism from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
“I would have done it differently” Pistorius told the ZDF Heute-Journal on Thursday. “Before I enter into negotiations, I don’t take away two of the biggest bargaining chips without getting a counteroffer in return.”
Pistorius also expressed concern over the fact that the US is only engaging in talks with Russia, excluding Ukraine and the European powers. “It’s bad when, in a situation like this, the aggressor is negotiating with a mediator, but without the one being attacked” the SPD politician said. “Not to mention that the states on the same continent, which will be dealing with peacekeeping and a new order and living alongside each other, are not even involved.”
Pistorius attributed new US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth the importance he attaches to NATO. However, he stated that the US military and US foreign policy “will need to realign themselves in the face of the global situation in the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on China.” The gap that will emerge, Pistorius said, must be filled by the Europeans. “And that won’t be achieved with two or two and a half percent defense spending” the Defense Minister concluded.