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World in brief: February 12, 2025
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth (second left) speaks with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (centre) and Estonia's Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur (third right) during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact group at Nato headquarters in Brussels, February 12, 2025

UKRAINE:  United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said today that Nato membership for Ukraine was unrealistic.

In sweeping remarks he suggested the way forward for Ukraine would be to abandon hopes of a return to its pre-2014 borders and prepare for a negotiated settlement with Russia, backed by an international force of troops.

Mr Hegseth made the comments during his first trip to meet Nato military allies.

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