President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the United States will help protect Ukraine after the war with Russia, but American troops will not be deployed in the country. "I guarantee you that," Trump said in an interview with Fox News the day after a summit at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders.
"When it comes to security, they are ready to put their people on the battlefield," Trump said, referring to European countries. "We are ready to help them, especially, probably, with aviation support, because no one has equipment like we do."
After a day of meetings with European leaders, Trump posted on social media about security guarantees, stating that they "will be provided by various European countries in coordination with the United States of America."
At the same time, Trump reiterated that he is against Ukraine's membership in NATO and the associated benefits of collective defense. Article 5 of the alliance treaty states that an armed attack on one of its members is considered an attack on all. "Who would want that?" Trump said. "If you were Russia, who would want your enemy, your adversary, sitting on your line?"
Trump stated that in the coming days the US will "learn" about Putin's readiness to end the war, but added that Zelensky also "needs to show some flexibility." Trump stated that he could join Zelensky and Putin for a trilateral meeting if their personal meeting goes well. But he continues to place the responsibility for resolving the conflict on them.
"They are the ones who have to make decisions," Trump said in an interview with Fox News. "We are 7,000 miles away from them, to be honest."