U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend a pivotal Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at NATO headquarters, marking a historic first and signaling a cooling of Washington’s role in the war effort under the Trump administration.

Hegseth’s absence is the first time since April 2022 that a U.S. defense secretary has missed the monthly Ukraine coordination forum. Instead, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker will represent Washington at the meeting.

A Pentagon spokesperson cited “travel schedule conflicts,” while reiterating the administration’s focus on ending the Ukraine war “on terms that establish an enduring peace.”

The U.K. and Germany assumed leadership of the group in February after Hegseth announced the U.S. would step back from its coordinating role.

Strains with NATO Allies

The move further underscores a shift in the Trump administration’s engagement with Europe. During his first NATO visit in February, Hegseth warned that the American military presence in Europe was “not forever,” rattling allies.

He also laid out a controversial list of conditions for Ukraine to enter peace talks, including forgoing NATO membership and abandoning pre-invasion territorial claims.

NATO Summit Looms Large

The Brussels meeting comes just weeks ahead of NATO’s annual summit in the Netherlands on June 24–25, where President Trump is expected to clarify his administration’s stance on Europe, Russia, and continued Ukraine support.

Ambassador Whitaker recently signaled that troop reductions in Europe could soon be discussed, adding further uncertainty to transatlantic defense ties.