President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that robust US air support and European ground forces could form the backbone of future security guarantees for Ukraine, but he simultaneously warned of a “rough” outcome if Moscow and Kyiv fail to reach a peace agreement.
During a Fox News interview, Trump confirmed European allies expressed willingness to deploy personnel on Ukrainian soil following Monday’s White House meetings. “We possess unmatched aerial capabilities that no other nation realistically has,” he emphasized, signaling strong US air involvement. Furthermore, he categorically ruled out deploying American ground troops to Ukraine and dismissed any possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.
Kyiv urgently seeks ironclad security assurances after enduring over three years of brutal Russian invasion. Moscow, however, consistently rejects Western military presence on former Soviet territory and fiercely opposes Ukrainian NATO membership. Trump specifically named France, Germany, and the UK as nations prepared to commit “boots on the ground.”
Pushing for Direct Putin-Zelensky Talks
Trump revealed he actively pressures both leaders to convene a bilateral summit before he joins a trilateral meeting, stating, “I spoke directly with President Putin about arranging talks with President Zelensky,” acknowledging potential Russian hesitation. “I hope President Putin follows through; otherwise, the situation becomes very rough.” He added that Zelensky must also demonstrate significant flexibility during negotiations.
The president delivered a stark message regarding occupied Ukrainian land, insisting Kyiv must accept permanent territorial concessions. “Look at the map: Russia controls a massive chunk of territory, including approximately 79% of Donbas right now,” Trump asserted, urging that Ukraine lacks the military power to reverse these losses against a “powerful” Russia, ten times its size.
Trump framed territorial surrender as the necessary price for peace and stability, stating, “Ukraine will regain their lives, stop the killing, and secure substantial land returns under this deal.” This position directly addresses the war’s central sticking point—the fate of vast occupied regions—while offering Kyiv a path to end the devastating conflict.
