• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

Obama officials, Trump critics target Hegseth’s Ukraine ‘concessions’ as ‘biggest gift’ to Russia

by February 13, 2025
written by February 13, 2025

Obama officials and Trump critics are up in arms after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a return to the Eastern European country’s pre-war borders with Russia is ‘unrealistic.’ 

Hegseth, speaking to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Belgium on Wednesday, said ‘returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective.’ He also called for Europe to offer Ukraine security guarantees after the war – not the U.S. 

Trump administration critics accused the secretary of giving up leverage before the start of peace negotiations with Russia. 

‘Putin is gonna pocket this and ask for more,’ Brett Bruen, director of Global Engagement under the Obama White House, told Fox News Digital. 

Hegseth said Wednesday that ‘durable peace’ for Ukraine must ‘ensure that the war will not begin again.’

‘The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement. Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops,’ he said. 

‘If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission and not covered under Article 5. There also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact. To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine.’

While it is little surprise the Trump administration does not currently support Ukraine’s NATO membership, or believe Ukraine can take back all of its territory including Crimea, critics argue that Hegseth vocalizing these beliefs just as President Donald Trump fired the opening salvo in peace negotiations took them off the table as leverage. 

‘Why would you unilaterally surrender on some of those key strategic issues? Even if Trump ultimately wants to give ground, at least get something in return,’ Bruen said. 

‘Anyone with any diplomatic experience would have said it is critical that we use this as part of our negotiation, as President Trump wants to have with Moscow. But the idea that we’re simply going to announce all of the things that we are not going to do goes against 70 years of our diplomacy and our military strategy.’ 

Michael McFaul, ambassador to Russia under the Obama administration, asked why the Trump administration appeared to be giving Russian President Vladimir Putin wins for free. 

‘Why is the Trump administration giving Putin gifts – Ukrainian land and no NATO membership for Ukraine – before negotiations even begin?’ he asked on X. ‘I’ve negotiated with the Russians. You never give up anything to them for free.’

Alexander Vindman, a Trump impeachment witness and former Europe director at the National Security Council – who continues to be a fierce Trump critic – characterized Hegseth’s comments as ‘complete capitulation to Putin’ that justifies Russia’s wars of aggression going back to Georgia in 2008.

‘This will embolden Putin and undermine the interests of peace in Ukraine and Europe. A major blow to U.S. national security,’ Vindman asserted.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., chimed in that Hegseth’s comments show, ‘Trump’s foreign policy has always been Russia First. Never America and its allies first.’ 

The defense secretary also called on Europe to ‘take ownership of conventional security on the continent.’

‘European allies must lead from the front,’ Hegseth said. ‘Together, we can establish a division of labor that maximize our comparative advantages in Europe and Pacific, respectively.’

His comments came just before Trump called both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent traveled to Kyiv. 

On Friday, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. 

The Putin conversation came one day after the release of American Marc Fogel, who had been detained by the Kremlin, which Trump said he saw as a sign of ‘good faith’ by the Russians. 

Trump, meanwhile, has begun pressuring Ukrainians to turn over access to rare Earth minerals in exchange for security aid. Bessent presented Ukraine with a draft deal exchanging aid for minerals on Wednesday in Kyiv, according to Zelenskyy. 

‘We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations,’ Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday of his call with Putin. ‘We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately.’ 

He announced that he would asked Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to lead negotiations. 

Trump also said his call with Zelenskyy went ‘very well.’ 

‘​​It is time to stop this ridiculous War, where there has been massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Reagan’s ‘peace through strength’ doctrine can aid Trump administration with Taiwan policy, group says
next post
Tariffs would be ‘catastrophic’ for sales of tequila and mezcal, industry group says

related articles

Vance visits church where Christians believe Jesus was...

October 23, 2025

New poll in key showdown for Virginia governor...

October 23, 2025

Americans could face airport chaos if Dems don’t...

October 23, 2025

Inside Trump’s ultimatum that forced Netanyahu to the...

October 23, 2025

Vance rebukes Israel on ‘very stupid’ vote to...

October 23, 2025

Top Republican slams Katherine Clark for admitting suffering...

October 23, 2025

Vance calls Psaki comments about wife Usha ‘disgraceful’

October 23, 2025

Trump yet to endorse in VA governor’s race...

October 23, 2025

DAVID MARCUS: Trump’s ballroom is no vanity project,...

October 23, 2025

Examining the next threat from Communist China: Our...

October 23, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • State Department says US ‘unequivocally condemns’ Israeli airstrike in Syria, calls for ‘dialogue’

    July 18, 2025
  • Lindsey Graham to push ‘bone-breaking sanctions and tariffs’ to pressure Russia into peace with Ukraine

    March 12, 2025
  • Technical Difficulties Delay Trump-Musk Chat On X

    August 13, 2024
  • US says 8,000 North Korean soldiers to begin combat operations in war with Ukraine ‘in coming days’

    October 31, 2024
  • JONATHAN TURLEY: Justice Jackson plays pundit to dismay of SCOTUS colleagues

    July 11, 2025

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 4

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (6,506)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (941)

Latest Posts

  • Trump says he ‘always thought’ Waltz was responsible for Signal chat scandal

    March 27, 2025
  • Duffy confirmation hearing marked by bipartisanship, pledge to visit Helene-devastated states

    January 15, 2025
  • Trump team holds ‘constructive’ face-to-face nuclear talks with Iran, will meet again next weekend

    April 13, 2025

Recent Posts

  • Meta announces end of its DEI programs. Read the memo.

    January 11, 2025
  • Trump flips ‘I’m talking’ script from 2020 debate against Kamala Harris during presidential debate showdown

    September 11, 2024
  • RFK Jr’s running mate says Democrats are ‘terrified’ their campaign may join forces with Trump

    August 22, 2024

Editor’s Pick

  • Call with China’s Xi, and Trump-Musk exchange fueled barbs during 20th week in office

    June 7, 2025
  • DeepSeek hit with large-scale cyberattack, says it’s limiting registrations

    January 28, 2025
  • Fox News gets inside look at Gaza humanitarian situation as Israel weighs next steps

    August 5, 2025
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock