Secretary of War Pete Hegseth exhibited a swiftly diminishing patience for Ukraine's struggle against Russia upon assuming leadership at the Pentagon last year, according to a revealing report. The New York Times details a fraught beginning to his tenure, marked by apparent disdain for pro-Ukraine military figures and a dramatic overhaul of intelligence briefings.
A Tumultuous Start and a Demand for Brevity
Sworn in on January 25, 2025 after a narrow Senate confirmation, Hegseth's approach to the ongoing conflict differed starkly from his predecessor's. Sources indicate immediate friction with General Christopher Cavoli, the commander of United States European Command from 2022 until his retirement from the Army in July 2025.
Previously, General Cavoli had delivered lengthy, daily battle reports to Biden-era Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, with the two in regular contact. Hegseth, however, ordered an abrupt change. He instructed Cavoli to reduce briefings from daily to weekly and, on two occasions, demanded they be shortened to a mere 'four or five sentences long.'
The Stuttgart Showdown and Mounting Tensions
The rift became public during their first and only meeting in Stuttgart, Germany, on February 11, 2025. Cavoli reportedly urged Hegseth that the US must continue its support for Ukraine, warning, 'If we stop doing this, it's going to veer to the wrong side.'
This encounter, officials suggest, was pivotal. 'He started hating them both. And I don't know who he hated first,' one official told the Times regarding Hegseth's attitude towards Ukraine and General Cavoli. The report notes that aides were perplexed by the Secretary's clear 'hatred' for the general, with some speculating the animosity stemmed from Hegseth associating Cavoli directly with the Ukraine war effort.
Unanswered Questions and a New Direction
The Department of War did not respond to requests for comment on why Hegseth wanted drastically shorter briefings or the nature of his irritation with Cavoli. The Times article also suggested other potential factors for Hegseth's reported annoyance during his European trip, including jet lag and protests related to Pentagon policies on transgender soldiers.
Hegseth's early trip to Europe in February 2025 came amid President Donald Trump's pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war swiftly. The reported dynamics signal a significant shift in the Pentagon's engagement style on the conflict, moving from detailed, daily analysis to a preference for highly condensed updates under the new leadership.
