On Tuesday, President Donald Trump reassured the public that U.S. troops would not be deployed to assist Ukraine in its conflict against Russia, a statement that followed his earlier comments where he left the possibility open. During a morning television interview, Trump declared that Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO and reclaim the Crimean Peninsula were “impossible.”
In a series of discussions at the White House that included Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and various European leaders, efforts were made towards establishing peace in Ukraine, which has been embroiled in conflict since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. Trump's earlier comments had hinted at a potential involvement of U.S. troops in a European-led defense initiative for Ukraine, raising questions regarding military commitments.
During the interview on Fox News Channel's “Fox & Friends,” Trump reassured viewers by stating, “Well, you have my assurance, and I’m president.” However, the implications of this assurance were questioned since his presidency will conclude in January 2029, limiting his influence over military decisions after that point. Following his comments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that “U.S. boots will not be on the ground” as part of any planned peacekeeping operation.
In the interview, Trump expressed cautious optimism regarding the potential for a resolution to the ongoing Russian invasion, yet he emphasized that Ukraine would need to abandon its claim to Crimea and its dreams of NATO membership. He labeled both scenarios as hopeless, highlighting the challenging dynamics of the negotiations. Russia under President Vladimir Putin seeks the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from contested regions such as Donetsk and Luhansk and demands recognition of Crimea as part of Russian territory as part of any peace arrangement.
Moreover, Trump mentioned that he was facilitating direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin during the discussions held on Monday. Although it remains unclear if Putin will engage in these negotiations, Leavitt confirmed that Putin had indeed promised Trump he would meet directly with Zelenskyy. Trump had earlier suggested conducting three-way talks involving him, Zelenskyy, and Putin, but later indicated a preference for a bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin before any broader discussions.
Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, did not indicate that a meeting had been finalized following Trump's conversations with the Russian leader, adding uncertainty to the dialogue process. Trump surmised that Putin's intentions and course of action would become evident within the following weeks, suggesting, “I think Putin is tired of it. I think they’re all tired of it,” though the situation remains unpredictable.
