United States and NATO military officials met Wednesday to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as the White House works to arrange a summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The meeting follows President Trump’s promise during a White House summit Monday that the US would provide security guarantees as part of any settlement with Russia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead efforts to coordinate security guarantees among allies.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hosted several European Chiefs of Defense Tuesday evening ahead of broader NATO discussions. Military planners from the US and Europe have begun exploring post-conflict security options for Ukraine.
Budapest and Geneva have emerged as potential locations for a Putin-Zelenskyy summit. Both Trump and Putin maintain good relationships with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, making Budapest a viable option.
Trump clarified Tuesday that US security guarantees would not include American troops on the ground in Ukraine. The president said the US could provide air support while European allies would deploy personnel.
One proposed arrangement would station European troops in Ukraine under national flags but with US command and control. The Pentagon is conducting planning exercises on support Washington could provide beyond weapons provision.
Ukraine and European allies appeared encouraged by Trump’s commitment to security guarantees following Monday’s meetings. Ukrainian officials described the discussions as progress toward a comprehensive settlement framework.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine proposed purchasing $90 billion worth of American weapons through European funding as part of security arrangements, emphasizing that any agreement must include strong defense capabilities.
NATO officials said coalition members must reach consensus on what security guarantees will entail. The alliance has provided over €35 billion in security assistance to Ukraine in 2025 and expects support to continue.u
Russian airstrikes continued Tuesday night across multiple Ukrainian regions, killing three civilians and injuring dozens. The attacks highlight the urgency of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict through a negotiated statement.