Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker has said Pete Hegseth made a “rookie mistake” in his comments about Ukraine in a speech at NATO HQ. Pro-Ukraine Wicker, who backed Hegseth when allegations that he liked to drink on the job surfaced,

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee thinks Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a “rookie mistake” earlier this week when he undercut Ukraine’s bargaining position with Russia before peace talks have even started.

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the defense secretary made a ‘rookie mistake.’

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) painted recent remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on whether Ukraine would be welcomed into NATO a “rookie mistake.” “Hegseth is going to be a great Defense

Wicker went on to compare Hegseth’s remarks to something far-right commentator Tucker Carlson would have written. Carlson received backlash for his interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year and has baselessly accused the Biden administration of trying to “kill” the leader.

Pete Hegseth stoked a row with his recent remarks on Ukraine, stating that the war-torn nation should let go of its aspirations to join the NATO.

Democratic Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, blasted the Trump administration this week for “caving” to “Putin’s demands” after Ukraine “fought tooth and nail for its very survival, heroically withstanding barbaric tactics and unspeakable violence from Russia.”

In a speech earlier today, Vice President Vance downplayed the threat from Russia by warning European leaders they should be more concerned about the "threat from within." NBC News’ Aaron Gilchrist reports the latest.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down on remarks he made at NATO this week about the terms of a potential Ukraine-Russia peace deal, saying his job was simply to "introduce realism to the conversation.