Defense & National Security Newsletter

Hegseth skips Ukraine arming group meeting

by Filip Timotija - 04/14/26 7:44 PM ET

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by Filip Timotija - 04/14/26 7:44 PM ET

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The Big Story

Hegseth skips Ukraine arming group meeting

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is again skipping the meeting of nations supporting Ukraine as the administration turns its focus to the Middle East.

Alton Dunham/US Navy via AP

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is again skipping the meeting of about 50 nations that support Ukraine in its defense against Russia.

Instead of Hegseth, Pentagon’s policy chief Elbridge Colby will virtually attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting scheduled for Wednesday, a defense official confirmed to The Hill on Tuesday.

Hegseth, who has previously skipped the meeting, which the United Kingdom and Germany will lead, means Washington will not have its top civilian defense official at the huddle led by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey.

The Trump administration gave him the leadership role of UDCG, which was formed during the Biden administration by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Hegseth did not attend the group’s meeting at NATO headquarters last April; instead called in. He did not attend the June meeting, whereas the February huddle was attended by Colby.

Hegseth’s absence from the meeting signals the administration is shifting its focus away from Ukraine and toward the Middle East, where the U.S. has engaged in a weeks-long air strike campaign against Iran.

Read the full report at thehill.com.

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