US would help assure Ukraine's security

U.S. President Donald Trump assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the United States would support Ukraine’s security in any potential peace agreement to end the war with Russia. The pledge came during a White House summit on August 18, joined by European allies, following Trump’s recent meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Trump emphasized that European nations would take the lead as the “first line of defense,” but the U.S. would back them. Zelenskiy welcomed the commitment, calling it “a major step forward,” and confirmed that the security guarantees would be put into writing within 10 days. He also announced Ukraine’s intent to purchase around $90 billion in U.S. weapons.

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The tone of this summit contrasted sharply with a tense Oval Office meeting in February, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance had openly criticized Zelenskiy. This time, European leaders including those of Germany, France, Italy, and NATO joined to reinforce Kyiv’s position.

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Despite warmer relations, peace remains distant. Russia’s Foreign Ministry rejected the idea of NATO troops securing any settlement, complicating Trump’s offer. Still, Trump revealed he had spoken with Putin about arranging a direct Zelenskiy-Putin meeting, possibly in Hungary within two weeks, potentially followed by a trilateral summit.

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European leaders, notably German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, urged Trump to insist on a ceasefire before further negotiations. While Trump acknowledged liking the idea of a ceasefire, he suggested both sides could pursue a broader peace agreement while fighting continues, noting that halting the conflict might disadvantage one side strategically.

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Trump has been pressing for a quick resolution to the war, Europe’s bloodiest in decades, though critics fear he may lean toward a settlement on Moscow’s terms. His team has hinted that Ukraine may have to abandon ambitions of reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO. Instead, NATO officials discussed offering Ukraine strong security guarantees modeled on Article 5 collective defense commitments as an alternative to full membership.

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Zelenskiy has rejected Putin’s proposals from Alaska, which included ceding more territory in Donetsk. Any concession of Ukrainian land would require a national referendum. The war, ongoing since 2022, has already caused over a million casualties and devastated large areas of Ukraine.

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