Key points
- Trump hints at meeting Putin
- Saudi Arabia likely to host peace talks: Trump
- Pentagon chief lays down demands on Ukraine
ISLAMABAD: United States (US) President Donald Trump has reiterated that Europe must spend more on its defence given its vulnerability.
The US commander-in-chief who wants to end the war in Ukraine said Europe was far more in danger than the US.
“We are putting up far more money than Europe and Europe is in far more danger than we are. We have an ocean in between, Europe has Ukraine in between,” Donald Trump said.
Earlier, speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said it was not practical for Ukraine to join NATO.
We are putting up far more money than Europe and Europe is in far more danger than we are.” – US President Donald Trump
He said it is also unlikely Kyiv will get all of its land back. Trump appears to have conceded two of Vladimir Putin’s war aims before negotiations have even begun.
The president and Putin will likely meet in Saudi Arabia. “I’ll be dealing with President Putin largely on the phone and we ultimately expect to meet.”
“In fact, we expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there, and we’re going to meet also probably in Saudi Arabia the first time we’ll meet.”
Trump, Putin talk
His comments come after lengthy phone calls with Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier on the day.
Trump says he hasn’t committed to visiting Ukraine. He denies he is freezing Zelenskyy out of negotiations.
Asked if Ukraine is an equal member of the peace process, Trump says: “That’s an interesting question. I think they have to make peace.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth laid out President Donald Trump’s red lines and demands on Ukraine and NATO to Washington’s allies, telling Europe it must step up on supporting Kyiv and its own defence.
In a forceful introduction at NATO headquarters, the former television anchor set out the contours for a future deal that Trump has vowed to reach on ending Russia’s war on Ukraine.
“Our message is clear, the bloodshed must stop and this war must end,” he told a group of Kyiv’s backers that included his Ukrainian counterpart.
“Illusionary goal”
Hegseth said trying to return Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders was an “illusionary goal” that would extend the fighting.
The US defence chief said security guarantees would be needed for Ukraine but that NATO membership was “not realistic,” and made clear the United States would not deploy troops on the ground.
