Trump Rules Out Ground Troops in Ukraine, Considers Air Support

President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the United States will not deploy ground troops to Ukraine but is open to providing air support as part of a broader agreement to end the conflict with Russia.
This announcement followed a major White House summit where Trump promised security guarantees aimed at stopping the war. However, the path forward remains unclear as the U.S. and its partners work to define what kind of military assistance could be offered to Ukraine.

“When it comes to security, (Europeans) are willing to put people on the ground. We’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably … by air,”

Trump said during an appearance. He didn’t give additional specifics.
In a separate radio interview ,  Trump described his approach to resolving the war as guided by instinct rather than a structured process, saying, “probably instinct more than process.”
Just one day after the high-level meeting, Russia launched its most intense air assault on Ukraine in over a month. Ukrainian military officials reported that 270 drones and 10 missiles were fired, causing significant damage. The Ministry of Energy confirmed large fires broke out at energy sites in the Poltava region, which is home to the country’s only oil refinery.
Trump admitted there was a chance that Russian President Vladimir Putin may reject a potential agreement, saying,

“We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks.”

While the details of U.S. military involvement remain unclear, air support could potentially involve missile defence systems or even aircraft enforcing a no-fly zone.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the president’s position, saying air support was “an option and a possibility,” though no further details were provided. “The president has definitively stated U.S. boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the co-ordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies,” she said during a press briefing.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, over one million people have reportedly been killed or injured in the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the White House discussions, calling them a “major step forward” toward ending what he described as Europe’s deadliest war in eight decades. He also said plans were underway for a three-way summit between himself, Putin, and Trump. Zelenskyy’s positive tone marked a shift from their earlier, tense Oval Office meeting in February.
According to a U.S. official, Trump spoke with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday about possibly hosting the summit in Budapest. A senior administration source also mentioned Istanbul as another potential location. Hungary is among the few European countries where Putin could travel without fear of arrest by the International Criminal Court, due to Orban’s close relationship with the Russian leader. However, it remains uncertain whether Ukraine would agree to attend talks held in Hungary.
Switzerland has also expressed willingness to host any future negotiations, citing its neutral stance.
“They are in the process of setting it up,” Trump told reporters regarding a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. However, he appeared undecided about his own participation, adding,

“Now I think it would be better if they met without me. … If necessary, I’ll go.”

When asked how he manages competing priorities among the involved parties, Trump replied, “Well, it’s probably instinct more than process. I have instincts.”
On Tuesday, Ukraine’s supporters gathered for a meeting under the “Coalition of the Willing” banner to discuss increasing pressure on Russia through additional sanctions. Delegations also agreed to begin coordinating with U.S. teams to establish new security guarantees for Ukraine.
NATO military leadership is expected to convene on Wednesday to address the Ukraine situation, with U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joining the session remotely.
President Putin, following his meeting with Trump in Alaska on Friday, reaffirmed that Moscow will not tolerate NATO troops on Ukrainian soil and continued to press for control over territories not currently occupied by Russian forces.
Some security analysts believe Russia may attempt to stall peace talks to weaken international pressure and buy time. One expert noted that both sides—Ukraine and Russia—seem to be carefully avoiding direct opposition to Trump’s peace efforts.
“They’re all tiptoeing around Trump” to avoid any blame, the analyst said, also commenting that Trump’s remarks on security guarantees were “so vague it’s very hard to take it seriously.”