'Russia is popping champagne': Onlookers blast Pete Hegseth after big Ukraine announcement

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave away a major bargaining chip on Ukraine even before negotiating a settlement to end its war with Russia, according to some experts.

The Pentagon chief spoke Wednesday morning before a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and said the possibility of the war-torn nation joining NATO was unrealistic and announced that the U.S. would prioritize its own security against China over its European allies and Ukraine, reported CNN.

“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” Hegseth said, stressing that no U.S. troops would be deployed to the country.

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“We’re also here today to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe,” he added.

Experts weren't exactly surprised by Hegseth's comments or his tone, but they said the defense secretaries comments signaled a win for Russia and its president Vladimir Putin.

"They just surrendered one of the main points of leverage before negotiations even begin," posted former State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

"There it is," added national security lawyer Bradley Moss. "They're going to surrender territory."

"And there it is," agreed Justin Baragona, senior reporter for The Independent. "The Trump administration is essentially handing Ukraine over to Putin."

"We don't need to make NATO membership a subject of a negotiated settlement," said Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia. "That is a subject for NATO to decide, not Putin."

"Quietly, Hegseth announces a major policy change, ruling out Ukraine joining NATO," said Alexander Vindman, a former National Security Council staffer. "This is a capitulation to Putin, justifying his wars of aggression starting with Georgia in 2008. This will embolden Putin & undermine the interests of peace in Ukraine & Europe. A major blow to US national security."

"Ludicrous that some push the bs that the Trump regime would do anything for Ukraine," posted Olga Lautman, of the Center for European Policy Analysis. "In the latest, Hegseth says no NATO membership for Ukraine and frankly doesn’t support Ukraine reclaiming its territory. The only thing these criminals want to do is please Russia while stealing minerals."

"Oh and screw European security because U.S. has an imaginary war on the border," Lautman added. "Russia is popping champagne bottles."

"Hegseth (Trump) shows that he has not got a clue about how to negotiate with the Kremlin: To throw away all your cards at the beginning of the game is the worst start," said economist and author Anders Åslund, whose latest book is "Russia's Crony Capitalism." "The best Hegseth can do is to shut up, but he is probably unable to do that."

"Europe needs to face reality," Åslund added. "The US under Trump cannot be considered an ally: 1. Trump does not even in words guarantee the security of allies. 2. Trump refuses to discuss "peace plans" for Ukraine. 3. He is giving Russia free access to US intelligence through Tulsi Gabbard."