Meloni Backs Giving Ukraine NATO Security Without Membership
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Ukraine should be granted the security of NATO without the actual membership in the military alliance.
Speaking on the sidelines of a European Union leaders' meeting in Brussels on Thursday, she said 'we need to think about more durable solutions' than sending European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
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The Hill
27 minutes ago
- The Hill
Putin not going to make deal just to give Trump ‘a good news cycle': Ben Rhodes
Ben Rhodes, who served as former President Obama's deputy national security adviser, expressed skepticism on Tuesday that a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine could materialize in the near future. In an interview on MSNBC's 'Chris Jansing Reports,' Rhodes said it appears the two sides remain far apart on key issues — like details of security guarantees for Ukraine and potential NATO troop deployment — and the former Obama aide said he doesn't think Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from his longstanding positions simply to give President Trump a brief political victory. 'Clearly, these are issues. Vladimir Putin knows this. He's not going to make a deal just to give Donald Trump, like, a good news cycle here. He doesn't want any non-Ukrainian troops on Ukrainian soil. And so, this is a huge gap here,' Rhodes said on MSNBC. 'This is the question, when you get down to the brass tacks of what does a final deal look like,' Rhodes said. 'You have to deal with these things. Otherwise, what you're looking at is kind of a frozen conflict.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday afternoon that U.S. air support in Ukraine could be part of security assurances as it works to come to a peace agreement with Russia. But she reiterated that Trump does not want U.S. troops on the ground in Kyiv. Rhodes said it seems Trump would be comfortable with European nations sending troops, but he noted the division is not always clear and asked what the U.S. would do if those NATO troops in Ukraine were attacked. 'Those troops, what happens if they're attacked by Russia? What happens if Russia reinvades? They're NATO countries, right? Does NATO come to the assistance of those troops?' Rhodes said. He noted those troops in Ukraine would 'usually depend on kind of a NATO logistics and supply chain to rearm themselves, to train themselves,' saying a deal would need to figure out 'What is the U.S. participation in that? What is the NATO participation in that?'
The Hill
27 minutes ago
- The Hill
Hot mics and heaven: Global leaders make post-summit moves
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The ball is moving toward the end of this war, but there's a lot that still needs to happen — and plenty that can go wrong.' 💡 Perspectives: • The Hill: Putin must change his behavior or face regime change. • The Wall Street Journal: Trump gets real on Ukraine's security. • CNN: Trump deserves credit for peace push. • The Free Press: Trump's turn toward Zelensky and away from Putin. CATCH UP QUICK Six thousand foreign students have had their visas revoked since the start of the second Trump administration. A federal judge dismissed portions of a lawsuit brought by 'Alligator Alcatraz' detainees, handing the Trump administration a partial win. Hurricane Erin is forcing evacuations on North Carolina's Outer Banks. NEWS THIS AFTERNOON California Democrats move ahead with redistricting California Democrats have unveiled legislation to draw new congressional maps more favorable for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The move comes in direct response to Texas's mid-decade redistricting efforts. 'We decided as a delegation that we could not just stand there and allow [President] Trump to distort the next election, and continue to harm the people who we represent,' Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) said at a press conference. 'And so we have worked to try and identify a map that is consistent with the goals that we believe in.' California Democrats believe they can gain an additional five seats in the House next year with the new maps, matching the five House seats Republicans are hoping to pick up in Texas through redistricting. The California House Republicans being targeted: Kevin Kiley Doug LaMalfa Ken Calvert Darrell Issa David Valadao California Republican legislators responded by petitioning the state Supreme Court to intervene, citing a section of the state constitution that requires a month-long review period for new legislation. 'California's Constitution requires bills to be in print for 30 days, but that safeguard was ignored,' Assemblyman Tri Ta posted on X. 'By bypassing this provision, Sacramento has effectively shut voters out of engaging in their own legislative process.' MEANWHILE… Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) is requiring Democrats that leave the legislature's chambers to be followed by a designated Department of Public Safety officer who will ensure they return to the House on Wednesday at 10 a.m. The move is designed to ensure Democrats don't flee the state again to derail a vote on the newly redrawn congressional district maps. State Rep. Nicole Collier (D) refused to be accompanied by an officer and instead spent the night on the Texas House floor in protest. Indiana Republicans are casting doubt on whether they will move forward with a plan to redraw congressional district lines despite pressure from the White House. 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UPI
28 minutes ago
- UPI
Trump suggests air support but no troops for Ukraine's security
President Donald Trump would support using U.S. aircraft but not troops to support efforts to maintain Ukraine's security if a peace deal is reached to end the war with Russia, he said on Monday evening. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo Aug. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said the United States would provide air support for Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, but not U.S. troops on the ground. If the war in Ukraine ends soon, U.S. air support would be available to help ensure its security instead of making Ukraine a NATO member, Trump said on Monday evening. "When it comes to security, they are willing to put people on the ground," Trump said of Ukraine's European neighbors in a Fox News interview, as reported by The Hill. "We're willing to help them with things, especially ... by air because nobody has [the] stuff we have," Trump said. White House press secretary Karolin Leavitt on Tuesday confirmed Trump "definitively" opposes deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine, The Hill reported. Instead, Ukraine's European neighbors and others might support peace by deploying troops there, Axios reported on Tuesday. If so, the United States would be willing to provide air support to help maintain the peace, Trump suggested. Potential U.S. involvement in Ukraine's security is important for enabling a potential peace agreement to end the war that Russia started by invading Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Monday. Potential air support could be in the form of U.S. pilots engaging Russian aircraft in defensive operations over Ukraine, intercepting missiles or just providing air-to-air refueling. Trump and former President Joe Biden each have said they don't want the United States involved in direct combat with Russian forces. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the Trump administration's lead negotiator for Ukraine security plans, which Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed during their White House meeting on Monday. Whatever peace agreement Ukraine and Russia might make, Trump wants Russia to return tens of thousands of Ukrainian children whom it has abducted from Ukraine, according to CNN. Meanwhile, officials in Switzerland have offered to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. "We are ready for such a meeting," Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told CNN's broadcast partner SRF on Tuesday. "We have always signaled our willingness," Cassis said, "but it, of course, hinges on the willingness of the major powers." The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Putin's arrest for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, including abducting children. Cassis said the Swiss government would not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We can do this despite the arrest warrant against Putin because of our special role and Geneva's role as the European headquarters of the [United Nations]," Cassis explained. Trump talked with Putin following his meeting with Zelensky on Monday and after hosting the Russian president in Alaska on Friday. Trump said he is working to arrange a meeting between Zelensky and Putin within the next two weeks.
