Trump Pledges U.S. Security Guarantees for Ukraine, Signals Possible Trilateral Talks with Putin

 Washington, Aug. 18 — U.S. President Donald Trump pledged on Monday to help guarantee Ukraine’s security as part of any eventual settlement to end Russia’s war, though the scope of Washington’s assistance remains unclear.

The commitment came during a high-profile summit at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and a group of European leaders, days after Trump’s meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“When it comes to security, there’s going to be a lot of help,” Trump told reporters, emphasizing that European allies would share responsibility as the “first line of defense.” Zelenskiy welcomed the assurance as “a major step forward,” adding that formal guarantees could be finalized within 10 days. He also disclosed that Kyiv is prepared to purchase roughly $90 billion worth of U.S. weapons.

The atmosphere on Monday was markedly more cordial than in February, when a tense Oval Office encounter saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance sharply criticize the Ukrainian leader. This time, Trump greeted Zelenskiy warmly, praised his appearance in a formal suit, and later told reporters, “We love them,” when asked about the people of Ukraine.

Complicated Path to Peace

Despite the warmer tone, prospects for a ceasefire remain elusive. Russia’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that NATO troops could not be deployed to enforce any peace arrangement, complicating Trump’s proposal. Both Trump and Zelenskiy, however, expressed hope that the summit could pave the way for three-way talks with Putin.

According to European officials, Trump has already spoken with the Russian leader about a potential Zelenskiy–Putin meeting in Hungary within the next two weeks, with the possibility of a trilateral summit to follow. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that discussions were under way, though the Kremlin has yet to make a public commitment.

The last direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were held in Turkey in June, when Putin declined a face-to-face meeting with Zelenskiy and instead dispatched a lower-level delegation.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Monday that Trump and Putin had also discussed elevating the level of participants in future talks. European leaders in Washington, however, pressed Trump to secure a ceasefire before advancing toward broader negotiations. While Trump expressed support for the idea of halting hostilities, he argued that talks could proceed even as fighting continued.

Europe Pushes for Ceasefire

French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Merz both reiterated that a ceasefire should be the prerequisite to any substantive talks with Moscow. Macron stressed that security guarantees for Ukraine would inevitably extend to “the entire European continent.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte clarified that Ukraine’s membership in the alliance was not currently under discussion but suggested the bloc could consider NATO-style “Article 5” guarantees as an alternative. Such a commitment would obligate members to collectively respond to an attack on Ukraine without formally admitting Kyiv into the alliance.

Trump’s Pressure for a Deal

Trump has made clear his desire to end what he called “Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years,” raising concerns among Kyiv and its allies that Washington could ultimately pressure Ukraine into accepting terms favorable to Moscow. During the Alaska summit, Trump signaled openness to compromises long sought by Putin, including Ukraine relinquishing its NATO ambitions and recognizing Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Zelenskiy has rejected those proposals, insisting that any concession of territory would require a referendum. Analysts estimate the war has killed or wounded more than a million people on both sides, including thousands of Ukrainian civilians, while leaving large portions of the country in ruins.

For now, Ukraine’s allies are cautiously encouraged by Trump’s new pledges but remain wary of the president’s shifting stance. As Macron put it, “When we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the security of Europe itself.”