Stunning moment that’s raising eyebrows worldwide, two top officials in Donald Trump’s administration refused to explicitly state that Russia was responsible for the war in Ukraine. This comes as NATO defense ministers gather in Brussels for a high-stakes meeting chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth making his first official visit.
During a heated exchange on Fox News Sunday, host Shannon Bream asked Hegseth if it was fair to say that Russia launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine three years ago. Instead of delivering a straightforward answer, Hegseth dodged the question, calling the situation “very complicated.”
His reluctance to acknowledge Russia’s role aligns with Trump’s recent comments, in which the former president falsely labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” while refusing to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for the 2022 invasion. Trump’s shifting stance on Ukraine has already upended U.S. foreign policy, leaving allies questioning America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Hegseth, when pressed further, dismissed the need to assign blame, arguing that focusing on labels like “invader” or “dictator” was unhelpful. “Finger-pointing and pearl-clutching don’t make peace more likely,” he insisted, suggesting that Trump’s approach was bringing the world closer to a resolution—despite no clear evidence supporting that claim.
Meanwhile, another top Trump official, Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, made comments that appeared to defend Russia’s perspective. Speaking on CNN, Witkoff implied that the war was “provoked” but stopped short of saying by whom. He pointed to discussions about Ukraine’s potential NATO membership as a trigger, echoing a narrative frequently pushed by Moscow.
This rhetoric follows Trump’s continued reluctance to criticize Putin, a stark contrast to his escalating attacks on Zelenskyy. When asked last week if he believed Putin was a dictator, Trump sidestepped the question, vaguely stating that “President Putin and President Zelenskyy are going to have to get together” to stop the bloodshed.
As Trump-aligned officials continue to shift blame away from Russia, the international community is left wondering: What’s behind this reluctance? And what does it mean for America’s role on the global stage? With tensions rising and alliances at stake, the world is watching closely.
