U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, during hearings in the Senate, declined to express a definitive opinion on the future plans of Russian leader Vladimir Putin after the war against Ukraine concludes. In response to a question from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham about whether Putin would limit himself to Ukraine, Hegseth succinctly stated:
This is reported by Kyiv24
“We shall see.”
Lindsey Graham, one of the initiators of the bill to strengthen sanctions against Moscow, expressed skepticism regarding the indecisiveness of such an answer. He compared Putin’s behavior to that of Adolf Hitler and drew parallels with the situation on the eve of World War II, hinting at the possibility of historical scenarios of aggression repeating themselves.
Concerns About NATO and Baltic Security
General John Keane, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who also participated in the hearings, suggested that Putin may not stop at Ukraine alone. This raises concerns about the potential spread of Russian aggression to NATO countries, particularly Estonia and other Baltic states. Such threats are increasingly discussed in the context of the need to increase defense budgets in European countries. Intelligence leaders from Germany and other nations have also repeatedly warned about the risks of possible aggressive actions by Russia, although Putin categorically denies such intentions.
U.S. Policy on Supporting Ukraine
During the hearings, Pete Hegseth confirmed that the U.S. administration insists on achieving peace in Ukraine as soon as possible. He emphasized Russia’s role as the aggressor and cautioned against excessive expectations regarding Ukraine’s victory, noting the difficulty in defining a clear criterion for victory in this conflict. According to Hegseth, reaching a peace agreement aligns with the interests of both the U.S. and all parties involved in the armed confrontation.
Furthermore, the U.S. Secretary of Defense previously emphasized that the levels of American aid to Ukraine will not remain at previous levels and will gradually decrease.