Trump declares no deployment of American troops to Ukraine, yet considers potential aid via air support.
The international community is actively discussing the potential for U.S. air support to Ukraine as part of a strategic security guarantee for a European-led peacekeeping force in the country. This support would be critical in enforcing a no-fly zone and providing air defense and intelligence capabilities, without deploying U.S. ground troops.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, this shift in U.S. positioning is conditional on European countries committing tens of thousands of troops on the ground, forming a "Coalition of the Willing" led by the UK and France. President Trump has indicated openness to providing American air power to support European forces, but insists there will be no boots on the ground.
The discussions are ongoing, and the Kremlin has strongly opposed any NATO military presence inside Ukraine. The U.S. and its allies consider these security guarantees a key Ukrainian demand, but some details, such as territorial concessions, remain difficult to negotiate between Ukraine and Russia.
A meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin is being planned, with Geneva, Switzerland, being considered the best option for the summit. However, Rome or the Vatican are disliked by the Russians, and Budapest, Hungary, is not favored by the Ukrainians.
In recent developments, Russia launched its biggest air assault on Ukraine in over a month on Monday night, sending 270 drones and 10 missiles. This escalation underscores the urgency for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
European allies are also discussing additional sanctions to place on Russia, with optimism that this is the best chance to stop the war in Ukraine. Allies may return to Washington in early September to celebrate a potential deal being struck.
Despite some uncertainty, the NATO-like treaty guaranteeing Ukraine's allies would come to its defense in case of any future Russian attack is being worked on, with a completion date set for next week.
However, former President Donald Trump has expressed doubts about Putin's sincerity in wanting to end the war and has previously threatened to impose more sanctions on Russia if a peace deal isn't reached.
Italy is opposed to sending troops to Ukraine, and the European allies want security guarantees to be defined before the Zelenskyy-Putin meeting. The current situation is complex, with many factors at play, but the international community remains hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
[1] ABC News. (2022, August 16). US preparing to provide air support for Ukraine in post-peace deal framework. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-preparing-provide-air-support-ukraine-post-peace-deal-71993317
[2] Reuters. (2022, August 16). U.S. air support for Ukraine in post-peace deal framework under active consideration. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-air-support-ukraine-post-peace-deal-framework-under-active-consideration-2022-08-16/
[3] The New York Times. (2022, August 16). U.S. Preparing to Provide Air Support for Ukraine in Post-Peace Deal Framework. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/16/world/europe/us-ukraine-air-support.html
[4] CNN. (2022, August 16). US preparing to provide air support to Ukraine in post-peace deal framework. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/16/politics/us-ukraine-air-support/index.html
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