The Trump administration has signaled a significant shift in its position on Ukraine, telling European allies that the United States could provide intelligence tools, command structures, and key systems to help Western forces ensure Ukraine’s air security after the war.
According to the Financial Times, European officials said the move marks progress on security guarantees, though no final decisions have been made. One major obstacle – President Donald Trump’s reluctance to assist – has reportedly been overcome.
Sources told FT that Trump recognized the need for a US contribution to long-term peace in Ukraine, both to help achieve a ceasefire and to bolster his personal ambition for a Nobel Prize.
European commitments to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP have also reassured the White House, the sources added.
A draft proposal for security guarantees could be released soon, though it remains unclear which countries are ready to send troops and whether Russia would accept such deployments.
However, as of Aug. 20, 10 nations, including France and the UK, have reportedly voiced openness to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of the post-war security guarantees. The Kremlin has repeatedly described Western military presence in Ukraine as unacceptable.
US President Donald Trump agreed to provide security guarantees for post-war Ukraine in the form of air support without troop deployments following his talks with Kyiv and Europe on Aug. 18.
US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby earlier told allies the US plans to play a minimal role in providing guarantees.
The purpose of the security guarantees is to prevent a future Russian invasion of Ukraine. Suggesting that Moscow be involved in providing these guarantees – or having a say on how they’re implemented – effectively implies a demilitarized Ukraine.
The neutral status of Ukraine – including demilitarization – was one of Moscow’s initial war goals when it launched the 2022 invasion.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Western leaders aim to build security guarantees “on the logic of isolating Russia,” which he called “completely unacceptable,” deepening divisions in US-Russia negotiations.
He instead called for Moscow and its ally China to be involved in security guarantees for Kyiv as talks progress.
Beijing has provided materiel support for Moscow’s invasion but stopped short of directly endorsing the invasion. Its foreign minister also reportedly told the EU that China cannot abide a Russian defeat in Ukraine at a recent summit.
“I am sure that the West, primarily the United States, understands perfectly well that seriously discussing the issue of ensuring security without Russia is a utopia, a path to nowhere,” Lavrov said.
While Lavrov’s remarks highlighted Moscow’s role in shaping the security guarantees rather than directly providing them, a summary of his statement by Russian state media RIA Novosti suggested otherwise.
“Moscow will not agree to collective security guarantees for resolving the Ukrainian crisis being adopted without Russia’s participation,” the outlet wrote in its update, citing Lavrov’s comments.