Trump orders team to work on security guarantees for peace in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump has directed his team to come up with a framework for security guarantees that will help ensure lasting peace in Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

The accommodations of a potential Putin-Zelensky meeting are on the way, and both sides expressed willingness for talks, she told a press briefing.

In an interview with Fox News earlier on Tuesday, Trump said there will be no U.S. boots on the ground, but indicated the United States could help in other ways, including air support.

He again categorically ruled out Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

While security guarantees remain a key Ukrainian demand, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it rejects any scenario involving the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine, warning such a move could trigger an uncontrollable escalation with unpredictable consequences.

On Monday, Trump met visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders at the White House to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The talks followed Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in the U.S. state of Alaska, where progress was reported but no deal was reached.

Trump offers "assurance" of sending no ground troops to Ukraine

Trump said Tuesday that the United States will help defend Ukraine after its war with Russia, but that there will not be U.S. troops on the ground.

"You have my assurance," Trump said in a Fox News interview, a day after hosting a White House summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders.

Trump said on Monday during meetings at the White House that the United States would be "involved" in security guarantees for Ukraine after its war with Russia but did not elaborate. He added more clarity in the morning interview with "Fox & Friends."

"When it comes to security, they're willing to put people on the ground," Trump said, referring to the European countries.

"We're willing to help them with things, especially probably ... by air because there's nobody that has the kind of stuff we have."

"The issue of security guarantees for Ukraine -- and potential U.S. involvement in them -- has proved to be a sticking point as Trump works to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia," reported The Washington Post about the development.

"European leaders have been encouraged that Trump appears open to a U.S. role in peacekeeping in Ukraine, but that could complicate negotiations with Russia, which has spent years working to counter increased military support for Ukraine by its allies," it noted.

The White House rarely hosts so many foreign dignitaries at once as it did on Monday, when Zelensky and European leaders arrived to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict with Trump.

The Monday meetings at the White House mainly focused on security guarantees for Ukraine and a possible trilateral meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Disagreements remain on some key issues, such as whether a ceasefire is necessary before further negotiations.

The latest talks came three days after the U.S. and Russian presidents met in the U.S. state of Alaska, when progress was reportedly made but no deal was announced.