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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is holding a news conference.

We expect questions from reporters on the war in Ukraine following major announcements by Donald Trump and his defence secretary Pete Hegseth.

US correspondent from NBC news, Mark Stone, is in the room – which is packed with journalists.

Leavitt is asked about remarks made by defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who said it was unrealistic that Ukraine expect to be part of NATO. 

The journalist says: “What’s the president’s view on the other option, on a nuclear Ukraine?” 

The press secretary says she hasn’t spoken to the president about either of those issues.

The reporter follows up on Hegseth’s demand that Europe take more responsibility for its defence, asking if the EU will have a seat at the negotiating table over the end of the war.

Leavitt makes a vague reply: “I don’t have any European nations who are involved currently to read out for you.”

Another reporter points out that Hegseth has “given away bargaining chips before these negotiations have even started” by denying Ukraine NATO membership or its pre-2014 territory.

“Again I haven’t talked to the president about Ukraine’s NATO membership,” says Leavitt.

She says she is “not aware of” Trump putting any preconditions on his meeting  with Putin.