US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, in Brussels on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the Ramstein Summit. The bilateral meeting focused on potential ways to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
According to a Pentagon statement on Thursday, Hegseth and Pistorius expressed support for a diplomatic solution to the conflict and a lasting peace in Ukraine. They also emphasized the need for European leadership in securing the continent’s safety. Additionally, the close friendship between the German people and US soldiers and their families in Germany was discussed.
Hegseth and Pistorius reaffirmed that long-term defense and deterrence goals necessitate higher defense spending from European allies. The statement indicated that the required output level should match strategic demands.
The Ramstein Contact Group for Ukraine’s Defense convened in Brussels on February 12, with Hegseth attending as the US Defense Secretary for the first time. In his speech, Hegseth rejected a key demand from Kiev for a peace settlement, namely the return of Crimea. According to Hegseth, Ukraine’s return to its 2014 borders and its NATO membership are unrealistic in his view.