Italian
In the heart of Brussels, among the austere corridors of NATO headquarters, the words of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth resonated strongly: the call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is not a betrayal of Ukraine, but a step towards peace: “Not a betrayal, but a reset factory for NATO,” he declared, emphasizing the need for a stronger alliance aware of the Russian threat.
BRUSSELS. His words have not gone unnoticed. American diplomacy, led by a Trump who calls himself “the best negotiator on the planet,” is treading on thin ice. The idea of direct negotiations with Putin has raised pointed questions: can seeking peace justify dialogue with the aggressor while Kiev fights for its survival?
Hegseth insists: “It’s a recognition of the importance of peace, not a surrender.” Yet, the eyes of Volodymyr Zelensky and millions of Ukrainians remain fixed on the front line, skeptical of a move that could legitimize Moscow’s ambitions. The Trump-Putin meeting takes place in a geopolitical context where American pragmatism clashes with NATO’s founding principles.
Hegseth’s “reset factory” could indeed renew the alliance, prompting European members to increase defense spending. But there is an intrinsic risk: if the price of peace is territorial or political concessions to Moscow, the credibility of the West is at risk of crumbling.
Donald Trump is focusing on a hard-line diplomacy, characterized by direct calls and pressure on European partners. However, NATO is not just a matter of budgets and bilateral negotiations: it is an alliance based on collective defense and mutual trust. Talking about peace without reassuring Ukraine could undermine this trust, just when the Western bloc needs to show more unity than ever.
In this scenario, Hegseth defends dialogue as a strategic necessity: “Peace is built by talking, even with those we don’t like.” A principle that is commendable, but raises the question: what will be the price to pay? NATO must decide whether to follow the path set by Trump or remain anchored to a firm line. Because peace, real peace, cannot be the result of an apparent surrender, but of a coherent strategy and shared will.
Meanwhile, in Kiev, the sound of the Trump-Putin call echoes like a warning signal. Not out of fear for peace, but out of concern that it might be misunderstood as the word “betrayal.”
