a day ago
Trump says US air support possible for Ukraine security guarantee
19 Aug 2025 18:24
Washington (AFP) President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that US air support and European ground troops could be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, warning of a "rough" situation if talks between Moscow and Kyiv fail."When it comes to security, they're willing to put people on the ground," he told Fox News, referring to European allies whom he met in the White House on Monday."We're willing to help them with things, especially, probably, if you talk about by air, because no one has the kind of stuff we have, really, they don't," Trump added his "assurance" that no US ground troops would deploy to Ukraine, and he categorically ruled out Ukraine joining the Western military alliance has long said it will not tolerate Ukraine joining NATO and has been hostile to the idea of Western troops deploying to the former Soviet said that "France and Germany, a couple of them, UK -- they want to have boots on the ground.""I don't think it's going to be a problem, to be honest with you. I think, I think Putin is tired of" the war, he said that following his talks on Monday with European leaders he is pushing to organise a bilateral summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky -- followed by another where he will join."I called President Putin, and we're trying to work out a meeting with President Zelensky. We'll see what happens there," he said. "If that works out, if it works out, then I'll go to the trilat and close it up."Saying it was possible Putin would back out, Trump said "I hope President Putin's going to be good and if not, it's going to be a rough situation."Zelensky "has to show some flexibility also."Trump said Ukraine has to accept it will not get its lost territories back -- including the eastern Donbas region -- but in return will get peace.
"I assume you've all seen the map. You know, a big chunk of territory is taken and that territory has been taken. Now they're talking about Donbas, but Donbas right now, as you know, is 79% owned and controlled by Russia," Trump said.
