US President Donald Trump has ruled out sending American troops to Ukraine as part of any future security guarantees, insisting that military deployment is not on the table even if a peace deal is reached.
Trump suggested that Washington could instead provide air support, while warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin would face a “rough situation” if he failed to cooperate in peace efforts.
The comments came after high-level talks in Washington on Monday, where Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside European leaders to press forward on a peace settlement.
Zelensky described the discussions as “significant” and revealed that Ukraine was already working on “concrete” security guarantees following the White House meeting.
At the same time, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron convened a “coalition of the willing” meeting to coordinate European support for Kyiv. Switzerland also announced its readiness to host direct talks between Zelensky and Putin, after Trump floated the idea in a call with the Russian leader.
Reactions in Ukraine remained mixed. In Kyiv, one resident said the talks had given them hope but added, “I’m not sure I trust [Putin].” Another resident expressed deep frustration, saying, “It’s very painful to watch all this happening.”
The developments highlight growing international manoeuvres aimed at ending the war, even as questions remain over Russia’s willingness to engage in a meaningful peace process.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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