US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth told US senators that he considers Russia an aggressor, but at the same time did not express a desire to provide military assistance to Ukraine in the future. Instead, he continued to talk about President Donald Trump's intention to end the war.
Hegseth was answering questions from senators during a budget hearing. This was reported by "Politico".
One of the veteran Republicans and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked Hegseth who the aggressor in the conflict was. "The aggressor is Russia", the Pentagon chief replied.
In the past, Trump administration officials have repeatedly refused to call Russia an aggressor, and the White House chief himself has said that Ukraine supposedly "started the war".
However, as "Politico" notes, the discussion with Hegseth "was a rare opportunity to see evidence of the growing disagreements among the Republican Party's foreign policy leadership".
"McConnell supported the Reagan-era international approach of American leadership. At the same time, Hegseth spoke from the perspective of the more restrained "America First" policy favored by many of Trump's allies, writes "Politico".
Democratic Senator Chris Coons told Hegseth that he was deeply concerned about the lack of military aid to Ukraine in the 2026 budget proposal. "We cannot abandon Ukraine. That would put us at a very disadvantage strategically," Chris Coons summarized.
In response, Hegseth said that the United States is seeking to force the parties to the conflict to conclude a peace agreement.
"The alternative to an endless war, largely financed by the United States and fought by the Ukrainians, with Russia having unlimited resources for it, does not make sense for the United States strategically," the Pentagon chief said.