Trump says Europe will support the burden on Ukrainian security after peace talks

President Donald Trump predicted on Monday that European allies would support the weight of responsibility by providing Ukraine certain security guarantees to prevent Russian assault, but that the United States would also help them.

Trump’s comments come while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as other European leaders, visited Washington, DC, to advance peace talks to end the war in Ukraine only a few days after Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine. And this is one of the key points we have to consider,” Trump said at a meeting with European houses in the White House on Monday. “And, we will consider this at the table. In addition, as who will do what? Essentially, I am optimistic that collectively, we can reach an agreement that will dissuade any future aggression against Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy heads for Trump’s crucial meeting while the United States weighs security guarantees for Kyiv

President Donald Trump meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House on August 18, 2025. (Alexander Drago / Reuters)

“I think European nations will take a lot of burdens,” said Trump. “We will help them, and we will make it very secure. We must also discuss the exchanges of possible territories, taking into account the current contact line.

Trump said on Sunday that Ukraine could end the war immediately if she agreed to give in Russia and abandon his candidacy for NATO membership. Meanwhile, the American special envoy Steve Witkoff also said on Sunday that Putin had agreed to allow the United States and other European allies to provide additional protection to Ukraine, similar to the protections included in the NATO mutual defense clause.

Zelenskyy arrives in Washington, DC for Trump’s meeting, urges lasting peace with Russia

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walked during a meeting in the midst of negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, the White House in Washington on August 18, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

Likewise, Trump said earlier on Monday that he had not excluded the possibility that American troops could be sent to Ukraine following a peace negotiation to dissuade Russian assault to support other European allies strengthening the security of Ukraine. Although he refrains from sharing specific details, Trump said the United States “would also help them. We will be involved.”

For its part, Zelenskyy said that support for security guarantees is essential to ensure stability in Ukraine.

“Security in Ukraine depends on the United States and you and the leaders who are with us in our hearts,” said Zelenskyy on Monday.

“We talked about it and we will talk more about security guarantees,” said Zelenskyy. “It is very important that the United States gives such a strong signal and is ready for security guarantees.”

European leaders will join the meeting of Trump-Zelenskyy, signaling solidarity with Ukraine

French president Emmanuel Macron arrives to meet President Donald Trump and the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, August 18, 2025. (Jacquelyn Martin / The Associated Press)

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Europe is aware that it will assume a large part of the weight of responsibility linked to various security guarantees – and recognized that it was necessary to preserve the security of each respective country.

“In order to have such a long peace for Ukraine and for the whole continent, we need security guarantees,” said Macron. “And the first is clearly a credible Ukrainian army. For the years and decades to come. And the second is our own commitments. We all … You can be sure that Europeans are very lucid about the fact that they have their right part in the security guarantees for Ukraine, but their own security is clearly involved in this situation.”