Hegseth will skip a meeting on organizing military aid to Ukraine

For the first time, the U.S. Defense Secretary will not attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, signaling a shift in America’s role in supporting Ukraine. Pete Hegseth will miss the gathering of over 50 defense leaders in Brussels on Wednesday and will not participate virtually. This move follows a series of U.S. actions distancing itself from the Ukraine war effort, including halting new military aid. Hegseth has handed leadership of the group to Germany and the U.K. and previously urged Ukraine to abandon its NATO bid, the Associated Press has reported. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials are in Washington for defense and recovery talks.