United States President Donald Trump has categorically ruled out deploying US troops to Ukraine as part of any peace agreement to end Russia’s ongoing war in the country.
In an interview with newsmen, Trump assured that the US would not participate in ground operations, emphasizing his commitment to stopping further bloodshed. Instead, Trump suggested that the US could offer support to Ukraine through air power, citing the country’s unmatched military capabilities.
“We’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably if you talk about by air, because there’s nobody that has the kind of stuff we have,” Trump stated.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced this stance, clarifying that while US troops would not be part of any peace deal, Washington might assist with coordination and provide other security guarantees.
This development comes on the heels of Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top European leaders at the White House, aimed at pushing for an end to the three-and-a-half-year-long conflict.
Despite the meeting being described as positive and productive by Zelenskyy and European leaders, significant differences remain between Russia and Ukraine on territorial concessions and implementing a ceasefire ahead of a comprehensive peace agreement.
Trump also elaborated on his plans for a bilateral summit between Putin and Zelenskyy, stating that arrangements are underway.
While Zelenskyy has expressed readiness to meet Putin, Moscow has yet to confirm its participation.
Switzerland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis has offered his country as a potential venue for the summit, despite the International Criminal Court’s outstanding arrest warrant for Putin.
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested Geneva as a possible location.
The prospect of Western troops being deployed to Ukraine as part of a peace deal seems unlikely, given Moscow’s repeated dismissal of the idea. Trump’s suggestion that Putin might agree to such deployment has not been met with enthusiasm from Russia.
The Donbas region remains a crucial point of contention between Russia and Ukraine. Russia seeks full control over the Donbas, an industrial region in eastern Ukraine that holds significant economic and symbolic value.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected calls for surrendering the territory, emphasizing that abandoning it would open the door for Russian President Vladimir Putin to launch further offensives.
The Donbas region is not only economically vital due to its coal reserves and industrial activities but also strategically important as it guards the central heartland of Ukraine.
Control over the Donbas would provide Russia with a significant land corridor linking Crimea to Luhansk and beyond, consolidating its grip over both the eastern front and critical stretches of the Black Sea coastline.
Experts argue that Russia’s claims on the Donbas region are dubious, and the Ukrainian government’s firm position has been to maintain its claim on Donbas.
Zelenskyy’s call for a ceasefire would mean continued Russian control over areas in Donbas that Russia currently holds, even if Ukraine does not give up its formal, long-term claim.
The question of territorial concessions and security guarantees will likely be central to any future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
As Trump pushes for a diplomatic solution, the positions of both Russia and Ukraine on key issues like the Donbas region will be critical in determining the feasibility of a peace agreement.