Media said about possible reduction of the US military presence in Europe

TheUnited States may reduce its military presence in Europe because of priorities in the Asia-Pacific region and the situation on the border with Mexico. This was reported by the NBC television company on 20 February, citing sources.

According to the media, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Ukrainian delegation during a closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the issue was being considered by US leader Donald Trump. The information was confirmed by five US officials and one official familiar with the negotiations.

The Ukrainian delegation, as NBC notes, was "stunned" by the Pentagon chief's statement. Kiev believes that the possible reduction of the US military contingent poses a long-term threat to the country's security.

In turn, the U.S. Department of Defense denied the information. In response to a request from NBC, the Pentagon said that the information was "100 percent false", and Hegseth did not make such statements and did not name the terms of the possible withdrawal of troops.

"NATO has destroyed security in Europe and is now taking on the Asia-Pacific"

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko on the alliance's dangerous plans in Asia, the peace agreement with Japan and uranium supplies to South Korea

Earlier on February 20, an unnamed European politician shared his fears with Politico that the transatlantic alliance is over. The publication's interlocutor, an anonymous senior Polish official, suggested that the U.S. leader does not actually intend to withdraw the U.S. from NATO or divide Europe. He said Trump wants to make Europe "take more responsibility for its security to strengthen NATO."