Pentagon Signals Shift in Ukraine Policy Amid Russia’s Gains

As the Ukraine war approaches its third anniversary, the U.S. seems to be reconsidering its level of support. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently expressed that Ukraine's NATO membership is "unrealistic" and indicated that the nation is improbable to reclaim its pre-war borders. The comments arise as Ukraine faces challenges with manpower shortages while Russia, despite significant troop losses, continues its offensive efforts.

The language change comes amid growing political exhaustion in Washington regarding ongoing support for Kyiv. Hegseth’s initial comments, made Wednesday, appeared to acknowledge significant points in Russia's favor before the peace talks.

On Thursday, he clarified that President Donald Trump is at the forefront of negotiations and that “everything is on the table.” He maintained that recognizing territorial realities is not a concession to Vladimir Putin but rather an acknowledgment of the conditions on the battlefield.

Since the onset of the war, Russia has experienced approximately 800,000 casualties, yet it persists in generating combat power. At the same time, Ukraine is encountering a decline in resources and difficulties in recruitment. As skepticism rises in Washington and Hegseth’s comments indicate a potential policy change, the future of U.S. support is left in question.

The Biden administration initially positioned the conflict as a struggle for democracy; however, under Trump’s leadership, America’s involvement in the war—and its readiness to confront Moscow—seems to be shifting.

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