European governments are reeling after the Trump administration signaled that it is planning face-to-face talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine.

Wednesday’s meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels was, on paper, about coordinating military aid for Ukraine and welcoming the new US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth into the international fold.

Ukraine could still become a NATO member in the future if it fulfils all conditions, Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said on Thursday.

Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson expressed optimism about Ukraine's potential future NATO membership, conditional on meeting specified criteria. Prior to a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels,

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth said that Ukraine’s Western backers must abandon the “illusionary goal” of returning the country to its pre-2014 borders.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday made the first trip to NATO by a member of the new Trump administration, as the allies wait to learn how much military and financial support

Secretary Hegseth held talks with the UK defense secretary and met with a Ukrainian group at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is to attend meetings at NATO HQ in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday as allies hope for clarity on Washington's continued support for Ukraine and its commitment to the Western military alliance.