Defense Minister Pål Jonson (The Moderate Party) does not want to draw too large conclusions after Wednesday's American statement, when Donald Trump's Defense Minister Pete Hegseth laid out the terms for Ukraine's future. Ahead of today's NATO meeting in Brussels, Jonson is trying to tone down the drama.
Hegseth said that NATO membership cannot be part of this political peace agreement.
There is another agreement from the previous NATO summit in Washington that says Ukraine's future is in NATO, but that they naturally must first live up to the political requirements for membership, says Jonson.
"No Betrayal"
After yesterday's announcement from US President Donald Trump – about impending peace talks between Russia and Ukraine – Jonson emphasizes that Ukraine's European allies must also be included in the discussions. Now Europe generally must take greater responsibility, says the Defense Minister – both for its own security and for support to Ukraine.
The US line should absolutely not be seen as a betrayal of Ukraine, believes Pete Hegseth himself.
It's no betrayal. It's recognition that the US and the whole world want to see a negotiated peace. My role as representative for the US is to speak realistically about this conflict, says Hegseth on his way into the meeting.
"Ice in the Stomach"
Hegseth praises Trump as "the planet's best negotiator". But criticism of the tactic comes from, among others, Germany. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius calls it "regrettable" that the US has made concessions to Russia already beforehand.
It would have been better to talk about future NATO membership for Ukraine or possible lost territory at the negotiating table, says Pistorius on his way into the meeting.
The UK's John Healey says for his part that no negotiations can take place without Ukraine.
Pål Jonson is also of the opinion that only Ukraine itself can decide if it needs to redraw its borders. The European allies continue to stand behind the country's territorial integrity, he emphasizes.
Let's have some ice in our stomachs now. Our line remains firm, says Jonson.
NATO's Secretary-General Mark Rutte notes that "much remains".
When an agreement is reached, it must be lasting – Putin must know that he can never again try to take a piece of Ukraine, says Rutte in Brussels.
The NATO countries' defense ministers meet on Thursday in Brussels, for the first time with the US's new Defense Minister Pete Hegseth.
On the agenda is a regular meeting in the morning and then a meeting within the special Ukraine Council in the afternoon.
Secretary-General Mark Rutte will hold a final press conference at 16.15. Hegseth is also expected to hold a press conference.
