Hegseth to skip Ukraine meeting at NATO headquarters

 

For the first time in the history of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the U.S. Defense Secretary will be absent from its monthly meeting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will skip Wednesday’s gathering of 50 defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels—an event that has played a critical role in coordinating military support for Ukraine. His absence marks the first time in three years that a Pentagon chief has missed the session.

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group and broader NATO ministerial meetings have been central to organizing Western military aid as Ukraine continues its fight against Russian forces. However, the Trump administration has gradually stepped back from a leadership role, handing over coordination duties to the U.K. and Germany.

Hegseth’s decision not to attend is being viewed as another signal of the Trump administration’s cooling relationship with both Ukraine and Europe. While Hegseth will be present in Brussels for Thursday’s NATO defense ministers’ meeting, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker will represent the United States at Wednesday’s Ukraine-focused session, according to a defense official and two individuals familiar with the plans. All spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Pentagon attributed Hegseth’s absence to scheduling conflicts. “Secretary Hegseth’s travel schedule precluded attendance at tomorrow’s UDCG meeting,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson. “The United States remains focused on ending the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible, on terms that establish an enduring peace.”

Following Hegseth’s February announcement that the U.S. would no longer take part in the Contact Group’s leadership—a role originally launched by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in April 2022—the U.K.’s John Healey and Germany’s Boris Pistorius assumed responsibility for leading the group. Hegseth has participated only virtually since then. Healey and Pistorius are expected to co-chair this week’s session.

Despite pulling back from leadership, the Trump administration continues to supply Ukraine with weapons and military equipment under a $61 billion aid package enacted during President Biden’s term.

This week’s meeting comes just three weeks before NATO’s annual summit in The Netherlands, scheduled for June 24–25, where President Donald Trump is expected to play a prominent role as allies seek clarity on his administration’s policies toward Europe and Russia.

Last month, Ambassador Whitaker stated that the U.S. would begin discussions with NATO allies later this year about potential troop reductions in Europe—though no final decisions have been made. During his first NATO visit in February, Hegseth warned that the American military presence on the continent was “not forever,” a remark that unsettled several alliance members.

In that same meeting, Hegseth also criticized European nations for inadequate defense spending and laid out controversial preconditions for Ukraine to begin peace talks with Russia. These included renouncing aspirations to join NATO and giving up claims to pre-invasion borders.