NATO military leaders to meet on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine
Ukraine and its European allies have been buoyed by US President Donald Trump's pledge of security guarantees during a summit on Monday, but many questions remain.
As military planners start to work on what options might exist for security guarantees, Trump ruled out sending US troops into Ukraine but suggested that Washington could provide some type of air support.
US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, who oversees all NATO operations in Europe, will brief chiefs of defence on the results of Trump's Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of NATO's military committee, said there would be a video conference on Wednesday.
'As diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine progress, looking forward to (Grynkewich's) update on the current security environment,' Dragone wrote on X.
SECURITY GUARANTEES IN FOCUS
Officials said the talks were taking place under unique circumstances and expected security guarantees to be a central issue.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was expected to attend, though plans could still change.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The British government said the so-called Coalition of the Willing, which met virtually on Tuesday, had agreed that planning teams would meet US counterparts in the coming days to advance security plans for Ukraine.
ZELENSKIY EXPECTS PLAN IN 10 DAYS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said after his White House meeting with Trump and European leaders that a framework for security guarantees would likely be worked out within 10 days.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump again ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine and gave no specifics about the guarantees he has previously said Washington could offer under any post-war settlement.
But in the same interview with Fox News, Trump suggested that Washington could provide air support to Ukraine.
'When it comes to security, (Europeans) are willing to put people on the ground, we're willing to help them with things, especially, probably, if you talk about by air because nobody has stuff we have, really they don't have,' Trump said. He did not provide any further details.
There are a wide variety of ways the US could provide air support. It could be as simple as providing more air defence systems to Ukraine or a more involved US role that includes US fighter jets enforcing some sort of no-fly zone.
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