Washington (AP) – For the first time since the US established an international coalition to coordinate military assistance for Ukraine three years ago, the American Pentagon chief will be absent when more than 50 other defense leaders convene on Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegses, who returned from a National Security Conference in Singapore on Sunday, will not arrive in Brussels until Wednesday evening, after the Ukrainian Defense Liaison Group meeting has concluded.
A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss scheduling nuances, confirmed that Hegseth would not participate in the videoconference either.
This marks the latest in a series of measures taken by the United States to distance itself from the Ukrainian war efforts. This move follows a warning from French President Emmanuel Macron during last weekend’s security conference, cautioning that neglecting Ukraine in favor of focusing on potential conflicts with China could lead to dangerous double standards.
France and other NATO allies are considering withdrawing troops from Europe to redeploy them to the Indo-Pacific region. Macron emphasized that abandoning Ukraine would ultimately undermine US credibility in deterring potential conflicts with China over Taiwan.
Hegses’ predecessor, Lloyd Austin, established the group after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since its inception, over 50 member states have collectively provided Ukraine with around $126 billion in weapons and military assistance, including over $66.5 billion from the US.
Under Austin’s stewardship, the United States chaired the coalition, with both him and the Chairman of the Co-Chief of Staff attending monthly sessions.
Hegseth has shifted away from his leadership role, refraining from announcing new military support and now opting out of the assembly altogether.
The first gathering of the group and the subsequent NATO Defense Ministers meeting occurred in Brussels in February, where Heggs voiced concerns that Ukraine should retract its NATO aspirations and work towards reclaiming all territories occupied by Russia. He indicated that President Donald Trump intends to envision a large portion of the financial and military responsibilities for Ukraine’s defense.
Since Trump’s inauguration, there have been no new announcements regarding US military or weaponry aid to Ukraine.
Heggs has also redirected leadership responsibilities towards Germany and the UK. While he will not be attending the session on Wednesday, General Christopher Kabli, the US European commander and NATO’s top alliance commander, will be in attendance.
Meanwhile, in Washington, a senior Ukrainian delegation, led by First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Julia Swillidenko, is in town for talks on defense, sanctions, and post-war recovery, as stated by Andri Yamak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office.
The Ukrainians have met with special US envoys Steve Witkov and Keith Kellogg to discuss recent consultations with the Russians and current battlefield conditions, as Yermak posted on social media. Swillidenko and Yermak are expected to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials on Wednesday.
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Washington Associated Press Writer Tara Copp contributed to this report.
Source: apnews.com