The US defense secretary threatens Russia with “costs” if it does not end the war in Ukraine

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Russia on Wednesday that the United States and its allies will “impose costs” for continued aggression against Ukraine.

“If we have to take this step, the US Department of War (ed. – the official name of the Pentagon recommended by President Donald Trump instead of the Department of Defense) is ready to play its role as only the United States can,” he said at a meeting of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine, at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, reports Agerpres.

Hegseth did not give details, but the Reuters news agency mentions that Donald Trump is considering the request of the Ukrainians to receive long-range Tomahawk missiles.

“Now is the time to end this tragic war, stop the needless bloodshed and come to the table of peace. This is not a war that started in President Trump's time, but it will end in his time,” he said.

The head of the Pentagon asked NATO allies to purchase more American weapons for Ukraine. A report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy showed on Tuesday that Western military support for the Russian-invaded country fell by 43 percent in July and August.

And the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, said that he expects new investment announcements in the PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List), a program that replaced arms donations from the US and through which 2 billion dollars have already been committed.

On Wednesday, Sweden, Estonia and Finland pledged new contributions, but larger countries such as France and Britain refrained from making promises, despite Hegseth's insistence.