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.

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.

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.

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.

Several NATO allies stressed that Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of any peace talks, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that the U.S. is betraying Ukraine.

The defense secretary outlined the Trump administration’s expectations as it pushes a negotiated end to the war with Russia.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins questioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on any pre-conditions around a possible Trump-Putin meeting and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments about Ukraine’s NATO membership.

Obama officials and Trump critics spoke harshly 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.