Ukraine’s key allies meet without US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the room

Hegseth Keeps Distance From Predecessor’s Ukraine Support Group

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth kept his distance — physically and rhetorically — on Friday from a meeting of nations providing military support to Ukraine.

In February, American Defense Minister Pete Hegseth shocked the Ukraine Contact Group. This time he did not travel to Brussels – which his colleagues do not want to overstate.

Europe leads Ukraine Contact Group gathering as Hegseth attends virtually

It's the first in-person gathering of the group of 50 countries organizing aid for Ukraine that didn't have the U.S. defense secretary in the room.

Ukraine allies pledge €21 billion in new military support

The Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), consisting of 51 nations and partners, led by Germany and UK, met on Friday in NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday.

Ukraine’s key allies meet without US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the room

Peace is out of reach for Ukraine due to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing aggression, the defense ministers of the United Kingdom and Germany emphasized on Friday after a meeting of Ukraine’s key allies in Brussels.

Hegseth to Attend Ukraine Defense Group Only Virtually - Overpasses For America

When military leaders from roughly 50 nations meet in Brussels on Friday to discuss aid shipments to Kyiv, one will be noticeably absent: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Instead of attending the gathering, the 27th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, in person, Mr. Hegseth is expected to dial in and participate virtually. It will be the first time since the group’s creation three years ago that the Pentagon’s top civilian will not be p…