Assurance for Kiev by Europeans: Exclusion of American Troops

The planned meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin within the next two weeks has set the stage for a series of high-stakes negotiations aimed at securing peace in Ukraine.

According to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), the USA's contribution to the protection of Ukraine after a possible peace agreement is a key uncertainty. However, Trump has suggested that some European states, including Germany, France, and the UK, might be prepared to send troops to secure a peace in Ukraine.

The details of the security guarantees against further Russian attacks are yet to be determined. Nevertheless, it is clear that these guarantees are seen as a prerequisite for Ukraine to make concessions in negotiations. Trump has largely aligned himself with the position of the Europeans in this regard.

There is disagreement over the need for an immediate ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace talks. While Chancellor Merz insists on this demand, President Zelenskyy has not made it a requirement before a meeting with Putin.

The USA, under President Donald Trump, is involved in these negotiations, coordinating with European states to provide military support, including armaments and air defense. The possibility of a military presence, including ground troops, remains undecided and subject to ongoing debate. Russia, however, has rejected the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian soil.

Trump is pushing for a bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, followed by a trilateral meeting with his participation. The talks are expected to take place in the coming days, likely by the end of this week.

The German government hailed the Ukraine summit in Washington as a historic event, with the dynamics of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska last Friday having been reversed. Germany and its partners are working on security guarantees for Ukraine, and EU Council President António Costa expressed optimism about the growing momentum regarding these guarantees.

British Prime Minister Starmer announced a meeting of representatives from the coalition of the willing with their US partners to solidify security guarantees for Kyiv and discuss peacekeeping force deployment preparations.

Moscow's initial public reaction to the potential Zelenskyy-Putin meeting was cautious, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stating that all contacts involving heads of state must be prepared with great care. France's President Macron, meanwhile, warned against rushing into a peace treaty without assurances.

The USA has emphasised that the main military burden should fall on European partners, while the US is ready to support its allies, for example, from the air. However, the exact nature of the US's involvement and the role of ground troops remain to be seen.

As the negotiations unfold, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.