For months, Trump resisted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeals for firm U.S. backing, dismissing them as a path toward deeper U.S. involvement in the war. After the Alaska summit, however, he outlined to European leaders that guarantees could include bilateral commitments, financial assistance, and U.S. support for a European-led security force in Ukraine, rather than the permanent stationing of American troops.

European leaders responded swiftly, issuing a joint statement welcoming Trump’s remarks and underscoring that Ukraine “must have ironclad security guarantees to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Leaders from Germany, France, Britain, Poland, Italy, Finland, and EU institutions emphasized their readiness to coordinate with Washington on shaping such assurances, likening them to NATO’s Article 5 principle but adapted to Ukraine’s circumstances.

Kyiv’s Demands And Peace Process Implications

For Kyiv, the prospect of U.S. security guarantees has been central to its negotiating position throughout the conflict. Zelensky has repeatedly argued that any settlement without guarantees would leave Ukraine exposed to renewed Russian aggression, citing past ceasefires that collapsed after short intervals. His determination previously triggered a tense Oval Office confrontation with Trump in February, when the Ukrainian leader pressed the issue forcefully. While Trump’s latest shift has raised hopes in Kyiv that Washington could anchor a broader Western commitment, doubts remain over whether the U.S. will formalize such obligations.

Trump also told European leaders he is pushing for a trilateral summit with Zelensky and Putin to advance peace talks, but the Alaska meeting ended without securing the ceasefire he initially sought. For Ukraine, the challenge now lies in navigating negotiations where Moscow continues to demand territorial concessions while Western allies debate the scope of security guarantees.