He added that what he said at the meeting of the contact group on Ukraine's defense issues the day before "should be interpreted not as red lines, but as the reality of the situation."
"I am not the one who declares what constitutes a red line and what does not. I work with the president, and we are addressing these matters, but we thought it would be beneficial to inject a bit of reality into the conversation. After all, President [Donald] Trump is the only one who will determine whether there is room for maneuver or movement on any specific position," emphasized Hegset.
He states that he formulated his remarks after consulting with senior leadership at the White House and the Oval Office. He notes the unlikelihood of Ukraine joining NATO at this time, considering current realities, rather than "in 25 years or within any specific timeframe."
Separately, quoting Hegset, Breitbart News reported that the U.S. Secretary of Defense "does not rule out nuclear weapons for Ukraine and that ultimately it depends on President Donald Trump."
"I am not here to announce anything that is open or unconsidered. That is not my role. It is the president's job. He is the leader, he is the master of negotiations and deal-making," concluded the head of the Pentagon.