President Donald Trump firmly assured on Tuesday that no US troops will be deployed to defend Ukraine against Russia, clarifying earlier ambiguity from Monday’s White House talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. In a Fox News “Fox & Friends” interview, Trump also declared Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and reclaim Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, as “impossible.”

The Monday discussions, attended by leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the EU, and NATO, aimed to end Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Trump initially left open the possibility of US troops supporting a European-led security effort for Ukraine, following his recent Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Putin expressed openness to security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Trump’s Tuesday statement, reinforced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s assertion that “US boots will not be on the ground,” quashed such speculation.

Trump expressed optimism about brokering a peace deal, emphasizing that Ukraine must abandon hopes of regaining Crimea and joining NATO. He noted Russia’s demands, including Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk and Luhansk and recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. Trump is actively arranging direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin, with Leavitt confirming Putin’s agreement to meet. A potential bilateral meeting within two weeks, possibly in Hungary, is under discussion, with trilateral talks involving Trump to follow if needed.

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“I think Putin is tired of it,” Trump said, suggesting a resolution could emerge soon. The evolving plan, shaped by Trump’s talks with Putin, Zelenskyy, and European leaders, reflects his push for a comprehensive peace agreement over a temporary ceasefire, despite European calls for an immediate halt to hostilities.

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