U.S. defense chief, national security adviser avoid naming Russia as aggressor in Ukraine

Two of President Donald Trump’s top advisers declined to describe Russia as the aggressor in the war in Ukraine, as the administration seeks Vladimir Putin’s support for a peace deal.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz both avoided direct answers in television interviews on Sunday, portraying the question as a distraction from Trump’s diplomacy.

“My question is, does all the finger-pointing and pearl-clutching make peace more likely?” Hegseth said on Fox News Sunday.