U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said Washington would support European nations in providing security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any eventual peace deal, while suggesting a ceasefire was no longer a prerequisite for talks with Russia.
Trump made the remarks as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House, days after a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that unsettled Kyiv and its allies.
“They are the first line of defence because they’re there, but we’ll help them out,” Trump told reporters, referring to Europe. He added that peace talks could move forward even as fighting continued, a position long pushed by Moscow but opposed by Kyiv and most European capitals.
Zelenskiy, appearing in a black suit rather than military attire, thanked Trump for U.S. backing but stressed Ukraine’s priority was halting Russian attacks. “We need to stop this war, to stop Russia, and we need support, American and European partners,” he said.
The meeting coincided with Russian strikes that killed at least 10 people in Ukraine overnight, including two children in Kharkiv. Kyiv also reported hitting an oil facility inside Russia.