Nato allies insist Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of peace talks

Sweden’s defence minister Pal Jonson speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of Nato defence ministers at Nato headquarters in Brussels (Harry Nakos/AP)

Several Nato allies have stressed that Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of any peace negotiations as US defence secretary Pete Hegseth denied that the US is betraying the war-ravaged country.

European governments are reeling after the Trump administration signalled that it is planning face-to-face talks with Russia on ending the Ukraine war without involving them, insisted that Kyiv should not join Nato, and said that it is up to Europe to protect itself and Ukraine from whatever Russia might do next.