President Donald Trump said U.S. troops will not be part of any peacekeeping force in Ukraine after the war, offering his “assurance” in an Aug. 19 Fox News interview. The statement came a day after he had not ruled out the possibility during Oval Office talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.
Trump stressed that European nations remain the “first line of defense” but said Washington would provide support through security guarantees, weapons, intelligence, and coordination. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that American troops will not be deployed to Ukraine, emphasizing that “U.S. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made clear that the U.S. has no plans to send troops into Ukraine, saying, “Boots will not be on the ground.” She stressed that America’s role will focus on support and coordination, not direct military involvement. will not send troops to Ukraine, stating, “Boots will not be on the ground.” The statement reinforces Donald Trump’s assurance that while the U.S. may offer security support, it will not involve American military presence. Instead, she explained, Washington’s role will center on supporting European allies through security guarantees, intelligence sharing, and other forms of assistance aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense without direct American military involvement.will continue to assist through security guarantees, intelligence sharing, and coordination with European partners. will focus on coordination with European allies and providing other forms of support. will instead focus on coordinating with European allies and providing other forms of security support.
Zelenskyy welcomed U.S. backing for security guarantees, calling it a crucial step in peace negotiations with Russia. Trump also revealed he spoke privately with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 18 and is working to arrange direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy, followed by a three-way meeting he would moderate.
