U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, stated that the U.S. and allies will "impose costs" on Russia for the aggression in Ukraine: "Now is the time to put an end to this tragic war"

Pete Hegseth, the American Secretary of Defense, warned Russia that the United States and its allies are prepared to impose costs for the ongoing aggression in Ukraine if the war does not end. At a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. Department of Defense is capable of acting in unique ways. He urged NATO allies to increase spending on acquiring American weapons, following a decrease in military support for Ukraine. Hegseth called on all NATO countries to turn commitments into actions through investments in the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). Additionally, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland have promised contributions, but larger powers like France and the United Kingdom have not made commitments. Ukraine remains dependent on American military support, while monthly aid has significantly decreased in recent months.