Trump pledges U.S. Security support for Ukraine pushing peace talks with Russia

President Donald Trump on Monday pledged U.S. support for Ukraine’s security as part of any eventual peace deal to end Russia’s war, during a high-profile White House summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.

“When it comes to security, there’s going to be a lot of help,” Trump told reporters, adding that European nations would play a key role. Zelenskyy called the commitment “a major step forward” and said security guarantees could be formalized within 10 days. He also offered to buy roughly $90 billion in U.S. weapons.

The meeting struck a notably warmer tone than a contentious Oval Office encounter in February, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly rebuked Zelenskyy. On Monday, Trump greeted Zelenskyy with praise and gestures of support, while the Ukrainian leader repeatedly expressed gratitude.

The summit came days after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. According to U.S. and European officials, Trump is working to arrange direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy in Hungary within two weeks, possibly followed by a trilateral summit involving all three leaders.

European allies, including leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Finland, and the EU, pressed Trump to demand a ceasefire before negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that any guarantees for Ukraine’s security must also address Europe’s broader defense. Trump, however, aligned with Moscow’s position that peace talks could proceed while fighting continues.

Russia has rejected the idea of NATO troops securing any settlement. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed Trump and Putin had discussed raising the level of negotiators in upcoming talks, though Moscow has not publicly endorsed the trilateral summit.

Trump has pushed for a swift resolution to what he has called “Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years,” but Kyiv fears he may pressure Ukraine into concessions. U.S. officials have suggested Ukraine may need to abandon hopes of reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said formal membership was not under discussion, though “Article 5”-style guarantees could be considered as an alternative.

The war, now in its fourth year, has killed or wounded more than a million people and devastated much of Ukraine. Despite Monday’s warmer diplomatic atmosphere, a comprehensive peace deal remains elusive.