DONALD Trump today ruled out American troops patrolling Ukraine — but said he was looking at air cover for European boots on the ground.
The US President publicly confirmed that Britain, France and Germany had committed manpower to police any deal with Russia but insisted his forces would play a back-seat role underwriting the peace.
His comments came as the White House confirmed Mr Trump’s team was negotiating a one-on-one showdown between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
But dashing Ukraine ambitions, Mr Trump warned the country “is not going to be a part of Nato”.
He said instead: “We’ve got the European nations, and they’ll front-load it. When it comes to security, the Europeans are willing to put people on the ground.
“We’re willing to help them with things — especially, probably, talk about by air, because there’s nobody who has the kind of stuff we have. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”
The White House released a remarkable series of behind the scenes photographs of world leaders, including PM Sir Keir Starmer, negotiating plans for the so-called Coalition of the Willing of 30 nations signed up to protect Ukraine.
Mr Trump was snapped showing them a collection of MAGA caps, while, hours after the meeting a new portrait of the President, unsmiling and striding between lines of US flags was also unveiled.
The candid snaps of Monday’s summit also showed leaders studying a map of Ukraine in the Oval Office as they discussed Ukraine ceding territory to bring about an end to the war with Russia.
It was claimed the leaders used the talks to convince Mr Trump to take a stand against Putin demands for Kyiv to turn over all of its Donbas region — comparing it to the US losing his beloved Florida.
And it was reported by the Wall Street Journal that they talked the President into supporting Ukraine keeping heavily fortified parts of the eastern region by describing it as a “bastion against the Huns”.
Speaking about the chances of a deal, Mr Trump said: “I think Putin is tired of it. I think they’re all tired of it.
“But you never know. We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks.
“It’s possible he does not want to make a deal.”
He added: “I hope that President Putin will be good, and if he is not, it is going to be a rough situation and I hope President Zelensky is going to show flexibility as well.”
The Sun told how Mr Zelensky won concessions from Mr Trump after turning up for a White House summit in a suit — as opposed to the combat fatigues he wore when they rowed six months ago.
The White House did not deny claims Putin had suggested Moscow as a venue for face-to-face talks with Mr Zelensky.
But the Kremlin would not publicly confirm they had even agreed to sit down with the Ukrainians.
Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was “not rejecting any forms of work, neither bilateral nor trilateral” but said any talks would have to be “prepared extremely carefully”.
He did suggest that they were open to meeting the Ukraine leader if it was prepared with the “utmost thoroughness”.
Mr Zelensky has reportedly rebuffed the offer from Putin to hold the meeting in Moscow.
However, Mr Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted Putin was signed up for a meeting — and that the US was actively involved in the organisation of it.
Geneva was being talked up as a more suitable location for the showdown.
Switzerland, which remained neutral during both World Wars, has promised immunity to the Russian despot despite an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest.
Although it is a signatory to the court, the Alpine nation said it could get around its obligations to handcuff Putin because of Geneva’s role as the UN’s European HQ.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said: “We have always signalled our willingness, but it naturally depends on the will of the major powers.”
Both France and Italy have signalled their enthusiasm for Geneva as a host country.
Sir Keir Starmer chaired a virtual call of the pro-Ukraine Coalition of the Willing countries from Scotland, where he is on holiday.
Britain, France and Germany are all prepared to deploy peacekeeping troops in Ukraine in the event of a deal to end the war.
A No10 spokesman said: “The PM began by reflecting on the constructive meeting, saying it was clear there was a real sense of unity and shared goal of securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
At one awkward moment the PM was forced to tell other world leaders to “mute themselves” so he could speak.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15005469/trump-rules-out-us-troops-ukraine/
