U.S. President Donald Trump hosted European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on August 18, amid ongoing discussions on military support and security guarantees for Ukraine, Reuters reports.
Military Planning Between Allies
According to a senior U.S. official, Senator Marco Rubio, also Trump’s National Security Advisor, held a call with European counterparts to review military options for Ukraine. Participants included:
- Jonathan Powell, UK National Security Advisor
- Bjoern Seibert, Chief of Staff to the President of the European Commission
- Geoffrey van Leeuwen, Chief of Staff to NATO Secretary General
- Other senior national security officials from U.S. and European allies
The discussions followed Trump’s pledge to assist Ukraine in line with any agreement to end Russia’s three-and-a-half-year war.
European Nations to Take “Lion’s Share”
Pentagon sources confirmed that U.S. and European planners developed detailed military options for review by allied national security advisors. The heads of defense from the U.S., Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., and Ukraine met in Washington between Tuesday and Thursday.
A source familiar with the matter noted that final decisions are still being finalized, but European countries are expected to assume the “lion’s share” of any military force deployed as part of security guarantees for Ukraine.
Vice President JD Vance previously remarked that Europe would bear the bulk of operational costs, echoing the collaborative approach under discussion.
U.S. Role and Air Support
Trump has ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops to Ukraine, but has left the door open for other forms of military involvement, including air support. Options under consideration include:
- Providing additional air defense systems to Ukraine
- Implementing a no-fly zone enforced by U.S. fighter aircraft
- Leading command and control in coordination with European forces if deployed
The planning process is ongoing, with Washington still defining the scope and role of U.S. participation.
