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By Monica Sager and Gabe Whisnant
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Addressing reporters on Tuesday in Stuttgart, Germany, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, "We are not sending U.S. troops into Ukraine."
Why It Matters
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his war on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since then, more than 1 million people on both sides have been either killed or injured, according to The Wall Street Journal. There are also more than 10 million people who have been forcibly displaced in the war.
Read More on U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump had said he could end the war within a day of taking office, but his pledge has not come to fruition yet,
In 2022, Congress passed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act to facilitate the supply of material to Kyiv to fight Russia. The bill expired in September 2023 without being used. Representative Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, has proposed reauthorizing a lend-lease agreement to provide Ukraine with weapons.
What To Know
A journalist asked Hegseth about Trump's strategy for the troops compared to his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
"President Biden vowed against sending U.S. troops into Ukraine. Would you be open to sending U.S. troops into Ukraine to track weapons shipments?" the reporter asked.
Hegseth responded that the United States still would not send any troops to the country. He emphasized that Trump is counting on a quick peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine amid its ongoing war. The Defense secretary also said Trump is "committed to delivering" a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
"We're going to have a straight talk with our friends," Hegseth said. "The urgency of this moment requires friends talking with friends about capabilities, about stepping up."
Hegseth did note that there are currently "no plans to cut anything" after being asked about moving forces from Europe to focus on China.
The defense secretary was visiting the combined EUCOM (U.S. European Command) and AFRICOM (U.S. Africa Command) headquarters. Hegseth's visit is part of a weeklong trip to Germany, Belgium and Poland to speak with U.S. and allied leaders.
...
Pete Hegseth 'Welcomes' DOGE to Pentagon
Hegseth also said during the stop, "We welcome DOGE to the Pentagon."
"Elon Musk is a great patriot," Hegseth said. "He is very interested in advancing the America First agenda...I hope to welcome Elon to the Pentagon very soon and his team."
The Department of Government Efficiency is working to cut wasteful federal spending and has been granted access to "sensitive Treasury data," including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems.
Hegseth's comments come after a reporter asked Trump on February 7 about where Musk has been directed to review.
"Pentagon, Education, just about everything. We're going to go through everything," Trump said during a press conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. "I've instructed him to go check out Education, to check out the Pentagon, which is the military. And, you know, sadly, you'll find some things that are pretty bad."
Musk, the billionaire CEO of X, Tesla and SpaceX, was approved by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to access the Treasury on Friday. It allows Musk and his team entry into a system responsible for trillions of dollars in government payments, including Social Security checks and tax refunds.
He has changed the bio on his X account to read "White House tech support."
Democrats have been speaking out about the "unelected shadow government."
Last week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries unveiled a new bill called "Stop the Steal," which they say is "to prevent unlawful meddling in the Treasury Department's payment systems and protect Americans across the country."
What People Are Saying
The Department of Defense, in a press release: "Throughout this trip, Secretary Hegseth will emphasize the importance of strengthening alliances, increasing defense readiness, and ensuring that American warfighters remain the most lethal force in the world by demonstrating peace through strength."
DD Geopolitics, on X, formerly Twitter: "GOOD NEWS AMERIBROS!! Deployment to Ukraine is canceled, deployment to Gaza, however, is still on the table."
The Wall Street Journal, on January 22: "President Trump has handed retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg the job of ending the Ukraine war in 100 days. Almost no one thinks he can do it—especially the Russians."
Russian President Vladimir Putin told officials on January 21: "[There] should not be a brief truce, not some kind of respite for the regrouping of forces and rearmament with a view to a subsequent continuation of the conflict."
What Happens Next
Unnamed sources told Reuters that Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, would discuss the issue of weapon supply for Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference, which begins on Friday, as the Trump administration looks at how to continue supplying Ukraine without incurring high costs.
Update 2/11/25, 11:59 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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