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President Donald Trump is pushing for an end to the Russia–Ukraine war while ruling out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine.

No American troops will be included in any security guarantees for Ukraine, but the administration could provide assistance in other ways, including air support, Trump told Fox News on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said that air support is “an option and a possibility.”

This comes after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders in the White House on Monday to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.

While Trump has ruled out sending troops, the UK is preparing to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a “reassurance force” if a peace deal with Russia is reached.

Trump is now arranging for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.

“I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The U.S. leader also blamed Ukraine for “taking on a nation that’s 10 times your size” on Tuesday, despite Russia undertaking a full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

Ukraine-Russia latest: Key pointsWhat to know about the Ukraine-Russia peace talks

President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several key European leaders met in the White House yesterday to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.

Now, Trump says he’s arranging for a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Here’s what you need to know:
  • The U.S. president ruled out sending American troops to Ukraine to enforce a potential peace deal, but said the administration could help in other ways. White House Karoline Leavitt said U.S. air support in Ukraine is “an option and a possibility.”
  • When asked if Putin has promised to meet with Zelensky, Leavitt confirmed that “he has.”
  • Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not commit to any meetings between Putin and Zelensky while speaking to Russian state media on Tuesday. He also warned that “any contacts involving top officials must be prepared with the utmost care,” CNN reports.
  • Zelensky called Monday’s meetings “a significant step toward ending the war and ensuring the security of Ukraine and our people.”

Read more

Katie Hawkinson19 August 2025 17:09

US and European allies begin planning for Ukraine security options

U.S. and European military planners have started exploring post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine, U.S. officials and sources told Reuters on Tuesday. This follows a pledge from President Donald Trump to help defend the country under any agreement to end Russia’s war. Ukraine and its European allies were encouraged by Trump’s promise of security assurances for Kyiv, made during a Monday summit, though many questions still remain unanswered.

The Pentagon is conducting planning exercises on the support Washington could offer beyond providing weapons, officials said. They cautioned, however, that determining what would be both militarily feasible and acceptable to the Kremlin would take time. One option involves sending European forces to Ukraine, with the U.S. in charge of their command and control. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters these troops would operate under their own nations’ flags, not a Nato banner.

Neither the Pentagon nor Nato has commented on the idea. The White House stated the U.S. could help coordinate a security guarantee for Ukraine.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has ruled out the deployment of Nato troops to help secure a peace deal.

While Trump has publicly ruled out deploying US troops in Ukraine, he appeared to leave the door open to other military involvement on Tuesday. In a Fox News interview, he suggested Washington could provide air support.

“When it comes to security, [Europeans] are willing to put people on the ground, we’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably, … by air because nobody has stuff we have, really they don’t have,” Trump said, without elaborating. U.S. air support could involve more air defence systems or enforcing a no-fly zone with US fighter jets.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the United States has shipped billions of dollars’ worth of weapons and munitions to Kyiv. The Trump administration briefly halted these shipments, including after contentious White House meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February and July. Shipments have since resumed, and Trump has pledged to send primarily defensive weapons to assist the war-torn country.

Nato military chiefs will focus on Ukraine and the way forward during a virtual meeting on Wednesday, first reported by Reuters. U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, who also oversees Nato operations in Europe, will brief defence chiefs on last week’s Alaska meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is expected to attend and will meet European counterparts in Washington on Tuesday evening.

As Trump continues to press for a quick end to Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years, Kyiv and its allies worry he could seek to force an agreement on Russia’s terms, especially after the warm welcome he extended to Putin last week.

Russia maintains its actions in Ukraine are a “special military operation” to protect national security, claiming Nato’s eastward expansion and Western military support pose existential threats. Kyiv and its Western allies, conversely, describe the invasion as an imperial-style land grab.

With reporting from Reuters

Oliver O’Connell20 August 2025 00:20

Watch: White House attacks reporter for asking why Trump didn’t call Putin in front of European leadersWhite House attacks reporter for asking why Trump didn’t call Putin in front of European leaders

Oliver O’Connell20 August 2025 00:00

State Department responds to Lavrov’s claim Rubio liked his CCCP sweater

The State Department has responded to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s claim that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he liked his sweater bearing the letters “CCCP,” the Cyrillic letters for the Soviet Union.

A State Department spokesperson told The Independent: “In the midst of historic peace agreements being led by the President of the United States, it is unbelievable, but predictable, that the media will find any reason to avoid covering this administration’s successes.”

The sweatshirt appeared to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to claims from Putin’s critics, who say he wants to rebuild Soviet Russia.

Bryony Gooch has more details on Lavrov’s sweater:

Oliver O’Connell19 August 2025 23:45

Trump is prepared to ‘crush’ Russia’s economy if no progress on peace talks, senator says

Senator Lindsey Graham has indicated that Donald Trump may now be prepared to back a bipartisan sanctions bill aimed at crippling Russia’s economy, following a phone call between the two.

Speaking to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Senator Graham stated that if peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia do not show significant progress by next month, then a “Plan B” would need to be activated. For months, the Republican senator has been a vocal proponent of imposing severe tariffs on nations that provide financial support for Russia’s military actions.

Following his conversation with Mr Trump, Senator Graham suggested a shift in the president’s stance.

He told reporters in South Carolina: “Trump believes that if Putin doesn’t do his part, that he’s going to have to crush his economy. Because you got to mean what you say.”

Oliver O’Connell19 August 2025 23:27

Putin would be granted ‘immunity’ in Switzerland, if he attends peace talks there, official says

Russian President Vladimir Putin would be granted“immunity” if he visits Switzerland for a meeting about the future of the war in Ukraine, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said, Politico reported.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023 over his invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post Tuesday that he, was arranging a trilateral meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but noted the location had yet to be determined.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday suggested Geneva, Switzerland host the summit.

Switzerland can host the meeting “despite the arrest warrant against Putin because of our special role and Geneva’s role as the European headquarters of the U.N,” the country’s foreign minister said.

Kelly Rissman19 August 2025 23:20

Where could the next Ukraine-Russia peace talks be held?

Switzerland is open to hosting peace talks, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said Tuesday to SRF.

“We are ready for such a meeting, and we are thankful for the trust placed in us,” Cassis said, while at a diplomatic conference in Bern. “We have always signaled our willingness, but it, of course, hinges on the willingness of the major powers.”

Cassis said Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over his invasion of Ukraine, would be granted “immunity” if he were to attend such a meeting in the country.

“We have clarified the legal situation,” Cassis said. “We could hold such a meeting, and we know what needs to be done to ensure it goes smoothly. We can do this despite the arrest warrant against Putin because of our special role and Geneva’s role as the European headquarters of the UN.”

Other world leaders have said they’re on board.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has expressed support for the idea. “Geneva could be the right venue” for the meeting, Tajani told reporters in Bern, adding: “Italy is in favor of taking place in Geneva because it is a country that has always worked for peace-building.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also said he was backing Geneva to host the talks.

“It will be [hosted by] a neutral country, maybe Switzerland – I’m pushing for Geneva – or another country,” Macron told French channel LCI on Tuesday.

Oliver O’Connell19 August 2025 23:00

White House considers trilateral meeting in Budapest: report

The White House is planning for a potential trilateral meeting in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, according to Politico.

The trilateral meeting would involve President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to provide any details about a venue for the meeting during a briefing on Tuesday.

Oliver O’Connell19 August 2025 22:40

Chairman of Joint Chiefs to host counterparts for Ukraine security meeting

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, will host military leaders from Germany, the UK, France, Finland, and Italy in Washington this week.

A White House official confirmed talks will focus on how to implement security guarantees for Ukraine.

Oliver O’Connell19 August 2025 22:28

Watch: White House responds to question about US air power being used in UkraineWhite House responds to question about US air power being used in Ukraine

Oliver O’Connell19 August 2025 22:25