Former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders, and offered security assurances to Zelensky. Trump stated the United States, rather than NATO, would ensure Ukraine’s security. This statement has elicited a negative response from Russia. Russia’s state channel RT questioned Trump’s intentions.
Trump’s statement suggests that the U.S. and its European allies will offer security guarantees to Ukraine rather than offer it NATO membership. This follows his meeting with Putin in Alaska, where a new Ukraine strategy was mentioned.
Trump proposed that Ukraine would receive security guarantees akin to NATO’s Article 5 without formal NATO membership. This means the U.S. and its allies would offer assistance in the event of an attack on Ukraine, but not under the full auspices of NATO regulations. Furthermore, Trump indicated that the U.S. would sell weapons to NATO which in turn could give them to Ukraine.
Zelensky has stated that Ukraine’s security depends on the U.S. and other leaders present. He wants to end the war and welcomes U.S. security guarantees. A trilateral meeting is scheduled to address all sensitive issues, and President Trump will organize the meeting. Ukraine is ready to stop the war and desires the return of its citizens.