Donald Trump has excluded sending American soldiers to Ukraine as part of any peace accord with Russia, dampening expectations that Washington could anchor a security order for Kyiv. Although he hinted at potential US air cover, the former president’s remarks highlighted the boundaries of American intervention both a reflection of his “America First” approach and the concerns of his political constituency.
No US Boots on the Ground
Speaking in a phone interview with Fox News, Trump was pressed on whether his supporters could be assured that US troops would not be dispatched to Ukraine. His reply was unequivocal, “You have my assurance, and I’m president.”
While denying the possibility of American troops on Ukrainian ground, Trump hinted at other types of assistance. “There’ll be some sort of security. It can’t be Nato,” he dismissed, closing the door on Ukraine joining the alliance. He indicated the US could offer air support if there was a need, calling it the most likely type of US involvement.
Russia has consistently threatened that the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine would be a red line during peace talks. Trump dismissed all such speculations, asserting that negotiations with Vladimir Putin could still be successful.
Europe Calls for Stricter Security Assurances
Trump’s hesitant vow follows NATO secretary general Mark Rutte’s characterization of his initial offer of US-supported security assurances as a “significant breakthrough.” European leaders, gathering at the White House with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have been scrambling to articulate what those assurances might be.
For Kyiv, guarantees of security are at the heart. “A top concern, a beginning towards ending the war,” Zelenskyy stated on Monday, emphasizing that there need to be formal assurances set up in days. European allies, however, have kicked around the concept of a multinational reassurance force in Ukraine though Trump has pushed back against any proposal of US troops being part of that unit.
Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni presented a concession: Ukraine would not be admitted to NATO, but allies would agree to a “collective security clause” that would bind all partners, including the United States, to take action if Kyiv is attacked once more.
Diplomatic Jockeying Over Putin-Zelenskyy Meeting
Underneath the threats and threats of threats is a more profound doubt: whether Putin is willing to engage in serious dialogue with Ukraine. It is said the Russian president offered to invite Zelenskyy to Moscow an improbable location considering Ukraine’s experience with plots against its president. Zelenskyy is said to have declined.
Other locations are being considered. French president Emmanuel Macron suggested Geneva, while Washington has teased out Hungary. Moscow has not yet confirmed any such meeting. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned any meeting would require “very thorough” preparation.
At the same time, Europe has intensified its own diplomatic push. Politicians convened a series of crisis meetings this week to press Trump to keep the heat on Putin following their comparatively cordial meeting in Alaska. A European “coalition of the willing,” chaired jointly by UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Macron, convened remotely ahead of attending a video conference convened by European Council president Antonio Costa.
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Gigantic Gaps Remain Between Moscow and Kyiv
Despite positive rhetoric at the White House, the divide between Russia and Ukraine is wide. Putin is urging Ukraine to pull out of Donetsk and Luhansk. Zelenskyy has categorically dismissed giving up territory or reducing his nation’s military capability.
That difference has left most diplomats unconvinced by recent events. Gerard Araud, the former French ambassador in Washington, wrote off the string of releases as “the victory of vacuous vagueness and empty commitments.”
For the time being, many questions remain unanswered, if Trump’s commitments mean anything more than rhetoric, if Putin really wants an agreement, and if Ukraine will accept a security arrangement short of NATO membership. With the war dragging on beyond its third year, the quest for peace goes on but so does the doubt about it.
