“The reality of Ukrainian U.S. military is unlikely,” Defense Minister Pete Hegseth told reporters on Friday, but insisted that there is no “daylight” between himself and Vice President JD Vance.
Hegseth touched on the possibility of U.S. troops entering Ukraine at a bilateral press conference with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Władysław Kamysz-Kamysz. At first, he seemed to shut down the idea, but then he didn’t seem to get it completely out of the way.
Heggs added that he “never restricts the U.S. president’s willingness to negotiate with sovereign leaders in Russia and Ukraine”.
Vance warns us that if Putin disagrees with the Ukrainian peace agreement, we will adopt sanctions, military action: Report
Defense Minister Pete Hegseth issued a press statement following a bilateral meeting in Warsaw, Poland on February 14, 2025. (Omar Max/Getty Images)
In an exclusive interview with the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, the option to send U.S. troops to Ukraine was reportedly still “on the table.”
Vance also told the media that the United States can use “economic tools” or “military tools” against Russia to end the war for nearly three years. The vice president said President Donald Trump hopes to have “productive negotiations” with Ukrainian President Vodimir Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also teased a deal that “shocked a lot of people”.
Vance is attending the Munich security conference in Germany, where he is expected to meet Zelenskyy.
The vice president’s speech appears to be in stark contrast to Hegseth’s Ukrainian defense liaison team in Brussels earlier this week. In his opening speech to the organization, Hegs said that rather than acknowledging Ukraine’s recognition to NATO, “capable European and non-European military” would support the country’s security assurance. However, he also seems to have completely ruled out the possibility of the US military.
“It is to be clear that as part of any security guarantee, there will be no U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine,” he said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a remark when he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Pentagon on February 5. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Former NATO ambassador predicts Ukraine’s impending ceasefire
At the Munich Security Conference, Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wick (R-MS).
“Everyone knows…people in government know that you won’t say what you agree with and what you will not agree with before the first meeting.” Senator Wex told Politico, categorizing Hegseth’s comments For “rookie mistake”.
President Donald Trump (Center), Ukrainian President Vorodomie Zelensky (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right). (Alessandro Bremec/Nurphoto via Getty Images | Contributors/Getty Images | Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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Trump has long spoken about ending the war between Ukraine and Russia, often asserting that he wouldn’t have started if he had been to the Oval Office.
On Wednesday, Trump announced that during a “long and productive” call, Putin agreed to start negotiations “immediately” to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump said he asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and the ambassador and special envoy Steve Witkoff leads the negotiations, saying he thinks they “will be successful.”
