White House talks put security guarantees, Putin meeting on table Ukraine summit at glance

A high-stakes meeting at the White House between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders on August 18 produced cautious steps toward future negotiations with Russia and fresh debate over Ukraine’s security guarantees.

The talks were described by European officials as markedly friendlier than Zelenskyy’s last visit to Washington. Zelenskyy said afterward that they had “very good talks” on “sensitive matters including security guarantees,” and declared he was ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin bilaterally, Caliber.Az reports via BBC. 

Moscow’s reaction remained guarded. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said it was only “worthwhile” to “explore the possibility of raising the level of representatives” in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Security guarantees for Ukraine dominated much of the discussion. Trump said these would be “provided” by European countries with “coordination” by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that Washington is working with both European allies and non-European partners to establish a system of guarantees.

“That will be something that will have to be in place after a peace deal, so that Ukraine can feel safe moving forward,” he said.

Rubio noted that “a number of countries” are willing to participate but emphasized Ukraine’s own stance: “As the Ukrainians have said to us... the strongest security guarantee they can come up with of their future is to have a strong military moving forward.”

In a significant shift, Trump did not rule out a long-term US role in Ukraine’s security, including the possibility of American troops on the ground — a position he dismissed at the start of the year.

Yet divisions persisted. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted that securing a ceasefire from Moscow must be the next step. Whiloe the US president said he doesn't believe a ceasefire is necessary for the war to end. 

By Sabina Mammadli