He said the experience will directly influence the formation of the U.S. defense budget for next year.
“In President Donald Trump's 2027 budget, you will see $56 billion invested in drone dominance. We continue to learn from what Ukraine has done on the battlefield. We have learned a tremendous amount from Ukraine and the way it operates. Our goal is not just to keep pace, but to become the best in the world at this,” the Pentagon chief said.
Hegseth also commented on the role of European allies and continued U.S. support for Kyiv, saying Washington wants Ukraine to retain its ability to defend itself.
“Where we could help Ukraine, we did. Where we could encourage Europe to do more, we did that as well. If you look at the amount of money being spent, Europe has really stepped up, and Ukraine has been just as effective, if not more so, in the process. So we want them to be able to defend themselves, and we will find a way to make sure we can help them do that,” Hegseth said.
U.S. military aid to Ukraine: latest developments
On May 22, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of equipment, spare parts and technical support worth $108.1 million to modernize Ukraine's Hawk air defense systems. Earlier, on May 5, Washington approved a $373.6 million deal for the sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), with Boeing serving as the primary contractor.
On May 16, Rep. Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Congress was unlikely to approve a new package of free financial aid for Ukraine. He said the United States would continue providing intelligence support, but that “there won't be large packages” because “Europe has to defend its own backyard.”
On May 12, Laura Cooper, the former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense who coordinated military aid to Ukraine through January 2025, told NV that the current suspension of security assistance by President Donald Trump's administration does not reflect the true wishes of the American people.
On May 2, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, it emerged that the proposed U.S. budget for 2027 does not include funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The program allowed the Pentagon not only to transfer weapons from existing stockpiles, but also to contract manufacturers directly to produce weapons tailored to Ukraine's military needs.