European leaders step up preparations for any potential peace deal
Washington: US President Donald Trump has made it clear that the US will not send troops to Ukraine in the event of any potential peace deal, but air support could be provided.
Trump’s statement came as he invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to the White House, three days after his historic meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Trump claimed that Putin had agreed to meet Zelensky and accepted some Western security guarantees, but Kiev and Western capitals have expressed caution over these claims.
According to reports, Putin suggested that the meeting be held in Moscow, but Zelensky immediately rejected the proposal.
Trump said that European countries such as France, Germany and Britain “are ready to deploy ground forces”, but the US would only provide air support. He stressed: “You have my assurance that there will be no American troops on the ground, and I am the president.”
European leaders have stepped up preparations for any possible peace deal. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said after consultations with allies that preparations would be made for the deployment of a “reassurance force” if the fighting stops. Meanwhile, the military chiefs of the 32 NATO countries will also meet on the Ukraine issue via video link.
Meanwhile, Russia has said that any solution must also protect its “security interests” and that Ukraine’s membership in NATO will not be accepted under any circumstances. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that “the most comprehensive preparation” is necessary before the summit.
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