US defense secretary urges Zelenskyy to negotiate, highlights economic partnership

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations, emphasizing the importance of economic partnership for Ukraine’s future.

“Zelenskyy should come to the table, because this economic partnership is an important thing for the future of his country, and we hope that he will very soon,” Hegseth said in an interview with Fox News.

Hegseth reiterated that President Donald Trump is focused on halting the war in Ukraine and achieving peace, saying that Trump is actively working to engage both parties in negotiations.

Hegseth criticized the former Biden administration for failing to initiate meaningful peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

“Joe Biden was never able to bring Russia to the table for actual peace talks. Only Donald Trump—he's the only man in the world that was able to do that,” he said.

He further claimed that Russia has shown willingness to negotiate, stating that the path to peace is "closer than ever before."

While reaffirming US support for Ukraine, Hegseth made it clear that American troops would not be deployed on the ground.

“US troops will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but an economic partnership is important, and an important commitment to Ukraine,” he said.

Hegseth also called on European nations to step up and provide security guarantees for Ukraine, stressing that the US would welcome such efforts.