US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he has ruled out putting US troops on the ground in Ukraine, but said the US might provide air support as part of a deal to end Russia's war in the country.
A day after Trump pledged security guarantees to help end the war at an extraordinary White House summit, the path to peace remained uncertain as the US and allies prepared to work out what military support for Ukraine might include.
“When it comes to security, (Europeans) are willing to put people on the ground. We're willing to help them with things, especially, probably, by air,” Trump said in an interview with the Fox News Fox & Friends programme.
Trump did not elaborate. Later, in an interview with radio host Mark Levin, Trump characterised his negotiating style in trying to end the war as “probably instinct more than process”.
After Monday's meeting, Russia launched its biggest air assault in more than a month on Ukraine, with 270 drones and 10 missiles launched, the Ukrainian air force said. The energy ministry said the strikes caused fires at energy facilities in the central Poltava region, home to Ukraine's only oil refinery.
Trump conceded Russian President Vladimir Putin might not want to make a deal, saying: “We're going to find out about President Putin in the next few weeks.”
The nature of US military aid for Ukraine under a peace deal was unclear. Air support could take many forms, such as missile defence systems or fighter jets enforcing a no-fly zone.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed US air support was “an option and a possibility” but did not provide details.
“The president has definitively stated US boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies,” she said at a news briefing.
Analysts said more than one million people have been killed or wounded in the conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the White House talks as a “major step forward” towards ending Europe's deadliest conflict in 80 years and setting up a trilateral meeting with Putin and Trump. Zelensky's warm rapport with Trump contrasted sharply with their disastrous Oval Office meeting in February.
Trump discussed Budapest as a venue for a summit involving Zelensky and Putin with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday, a White House official said.
Istanbul, where delegations for the two countries have met previously, has also been mentioned, a senior administration official said.
Hungary is one of the few European places Putin could visit without fear of arrest on International Criminal Court charges as Orban maintains close ties with the Russian leader. It was unclear whether Ukraine would accept Hungary as a venue. Neutral Switzerland also said it would be ready to host Putin for any peace talks.
“They are in the process of setting it up,” Trump told radio host Levin about a Putin and Zelensky meeting.
However, Trump cast doubt on whether he would attend: “I think it would be better if they met without me. If necessary, I'll go.”
Trump, asked by Levin how he balanced the interests of all the parties involved, said: “It's probably instinct more than process. I have instincts.”
Ukraine's allies held talks in the Coalition of the Willing format on Tuesday, discussing additional sanctions to crank up pressure on Russia. The grouping has also agreed planning teams will meet US counterparts in the coming days to develop security guarantees for Ukraine.
Nato military leaders were expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine, with US Gen Dan Caine, chair of the joint chiefs of staff, expected to attend virtually, officials told Reuters. Putin has said Russia will not tolerate troops from the Nato alliance in Ukraine. He has also shown no sign of backing down from demands for territory, including land not under Russia's military control, after his summit with Trump last Friday in Alaska.
Neil Melvin, a director at the International Security at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said Russia could drag out the war while trying to deflect US pressure with a protracted peace negotiation.
Melvin said Ukraine and its European allies on one side and Russia on the other were striving “not to present themselves to Trump as the obstacle to his peace process”.
“They're all tiptoeing around Trump” to avoid any blame, he said, adding Trump's statements on security guarantees were “so vague it's very hard to take it seriously”.
Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.