Image Source: Agencies

Aug 20, 2025: On Tuesday, President Donald Trump stated that the United States would not send troops into Ukraine, but that the country might offer 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" program.

Trump did not go into detail. Later, in an interview with Mark Levin, a radio host, Trump said that his method of negotiating to end the war was “probably instinct more than process.” The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched its largest air assault on Ukraine in more than a month, utilizing 270 drones and ten missiles, following the meeting on Monday. The energy ministry said the strikes caused big fires at energy facilities in the central Poltava region, home to Ukraine's only oil refinery.

“We're going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks,” Trump said, acknowledging that Russian President Vladimir Putin might not want to sign a deal after all. Under a peace agreement, the nature of US military assistance for Ukraine was unknown. There are many different kinds of air support, like missile defense systems or fighter jets enforcing a no-fly zone. Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary for the White House, said that US air support was "an option and a possibility," but she didn't go into detail like Trump did. She stated at a news briefing, "The President has definitively stated US boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in coordination and possibly provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies." The conflict, which began with Russia's massive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has claimed the lives of more than 1 million individuals.

TRILATERAL MEETING?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, hailed the talks at the White House as a "major step forward" toward putting an end to Europe's deadliest war in 80 years and arranging a trilateral meeting with Putin and Trump. Zelenskyy'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 Zelenskyy and Putin with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday, a White House official said.
A senior administration official stated that Istanbul, where delegations from the two nations have previously met, has also been mentioned. Because Orban maintains close ties with the Russian leader, Hungary is one of the few European countries where Putin could visit without being arrested on charges brought by the International Criminal Court. It was not clear whether Hungary would host the event for Ukraine. Neutral Switzerland also said it would be ready to host Putin for any peace talks.

When asked about a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, Trump told radio host Levin, "They are in the process of setting it up." But Trump cast doubt on whether he would attend. “Now I think it would be better if they met without me. If necessary, I'll go,” he said.

When Levin inquired about Trump's approach to balancing the needs of all parties, he responded, "Well, it's probably instinct more than process." I have gut feelings." On Tuesday, the allies of Ukraine held talks in the so-called Coalition of the Willing format to talk about more sanctions to put more pressure on Russia.

Additionally, the group has agreed that in the coming days, planning teams will meet with counterparts from the United States to develop security guarantees for Ukraine. According to Reuters, officials, NATO military leaders were anticipated to meet on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine. US General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was anticipated to attend virtually.

Putin has stated that Russia will not tolerate NATO troops in Ukraine. After his meeting with Trump on Friday in Alaska, he has also shown no sign of relinquishing his demands for territory, including land that is not under Russia's military control. According to Neil Melvin, a director at the Royal United Services Institute's International Security think tank, Russia could prolong the war while attempting to deflect US pressure through prolonged peace negotiations. Melvin stated that Russia and Ukraine, on the one hand, were attempting "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 that Trump's statements on security guarantees were “so vague it's very hard to take it seriously.”