US President Donald Trump has piled pressure on Ukraine, to end the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Read more at straitstimes.com.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday dismissed as "garbage" accusations that Washington had taken a pro-Russia stance, saying President Donald Trump was pursuing a peaceful end to Russia's three-year-old invasion of Ukraine.

Pete Hegseth told a meeting at the Pentagon that ‘only President Trump’ could bring Russia and Ukraine to the table - AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called criticisms of President Donald Trump's pause on Ukraine aid "all garbage" despite admitting that the policy appeared to some to be "pro-Russia." Hegseth was asked about the pause in military aid for Ukraine Thursday during a meeting with British Defense Secretary John Healey.