Hegseth Keeps Distance From Predecessor’s Ukraine Support Group

Representatives from the UK, Ukraine, and Germany during a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels on April 11.

Photographer: John Thys/AFP/Getty Images

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth kept his distance — physically and rhetorically — on Friday from a meeting of nations providing military support to Ukraine.

Hegseth “virtually attended a UK- and German-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group” meeting in Brussels, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.