Zelenskyy says “unexpected” countries may deploy troops to Ukraine post-war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a briefing that both “expected” and “very unexpected” countries have expressed readiness to send troops to Ukraine after the war with Russia ends.

He noted that, for now, no country has provided official confirmation or specific details, explaining that a true commitment would mean publicly announcing the numbers and scope of their planned contribution. According to Zelenskyy, several states are prepared to take such steps, including some that Ukraine did not anticipate, Caliber.Az reports per Ukrainian media. 

The president’s remarks came against the backdrop of recent security discussions in Washington. On August 18, Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump, and European leaders met at the White House to explore options for long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. The talks focused on mechanisms similar to NATO’s Article 5, though outside the formal framework of the Alliance.

During the meeting, Trump confirmed US participation in the guarantees but stressed that the main responsibility should rest with European partners, ruling out the deployment of American troops to Ukraine.

In contrast, members of the “Coalition of the Willing” signaled readiness to deploy deterrence forces on Ukrainian territory. Following the White House talks, about 10 countries reportedly agreed to contribute troops, with military planners from the coalition set to travel to the United States for further consultations.

By Sabina Mammadli