Participants in the meeting in Washington on August 18, 2025 Photo Getty Images
After the summit in Washington, leaders of European states and the United States proposed several options for security guarantees for Ukraine after the war. Until the White House reached a consensus, Bloomberg, Reuters and Politico have compiled their versions of security safeguards
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During a meeting at the White House on August 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump discussed the general framework of security guarantees for Ukraine, but no specific agreements were reached. The most frequently mentioned idea was to involve the armies of European countries and something like NATO Article 5. While these security guarantees were not recorded on paper, a number of foreign media outlets published possible security commitments received from anonymous sources of American and European high-ranking officials.
Forbes Ukraine has collected three possible key formats of security deals from analyses by Bloomberg, Reuters, and Politico.
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Consistent military support
The key idea was to bring European troops into Ukraine as part of a future peace agreement. It primarily involved the possible deployment of British and French military contingents, as well as the participation of about 10 European countries. The troops would be stationed on Ukrainian territory, but not on the front line, but as an “assurance force” that would reinforce guarantees and create a deterrent for Russia.
Donald Trump has confirmed in public comments that Washington is ready to help, but has ruled out the presence of American troops on Ukrainian soil. The US, he said, can provide support “in the air”, as well as through coordination, intelligence, weapons supplies and, possibly, air defense systems.
Trump has instructed his national security team to work with European allies to agree on guarantees.
A package of guarantees may include several stages:
- Strengthening the Ukrainian army with training and reinforcements.
- Deployment of a multinational group of troops in deep rear areas.
- “Backstop” from the US in the form of intelligence exchange, joint border control, and military-technical assistance.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloni has previously advocated for the creation of security guarantees for Ukraine, similar to NATO's Article 5, which would effectively mean joint obligations of the allies in the event of new Russian aggression, but without formal membership of Ukraine in the Alliance. In Washington, during a summit with Trump, she confirmed that this is one of the ideas that the allies are currently discussing.
Arrangements on security guarantees should be formulated “in the coming days, preferably this week,” said European Council President António Costa.
George Maloney proposes a defense pact Photo Getty Images
Dependence on NATO's decision
The Pentagon is conducting planning exercises to assess what kind of support the US can provide to Ukraine. Reuters specifies that the dispatch of European troops to Ukraine could take place under national flags, but with American command and control.
NATO and Pentagon representatives are not publicly commenting on this idea. And Russia continues to broadcast rhetoric against the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory.
US air support could include enforcing a no-fly zone with the help of US fighter jets, Reuters adds.
NATO leaders held a virtual meeting on Ukraine on Tuesday, August 19. US General Alexus Hrynkevich, who is responsible for the Alliance's operations in Europe, briefed allies on the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kaine, also took part in the meeting. The media have not yet reported on the results of the meeting.
At the same time, there is growing concern in Kyiv and European capitals that Trump may try to impose peace agreements on Russia's terms, Reuters concludes.
Friedrich Merz is not in a hurry to decide to send German troops to Ukraine Photo Getty Images
European differences
Politico focuses on the uncertainty and internal contradictions among the allies. The leaders of France and Great Britain publicly speak of their readiness to send their troops to the territory of Ukraine. But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hesitates, because any dispatch of a contingent requires a decision by parliament, and the Bundeswehr is not yet capable of providing a large-scale operation.
Poland, which formally has the largest army in the EU, has made it clear that it is not ready to send troops, limiting itself to logistical assistance. “Poland has its own strategic dilemma, because it borders Russia and Belarus, so it cannot weaken the forces necessary to prevent an attack,” a Polish official told Politico on condition of anonymity.
Turkey could be a major player with its large army and experience in the Black Sea, but Greece and Cyprus are blocking Ankara's access to EU defense funds. Ankara will demand concessions, but the EU will still find a way to limit its access, says former Turkish ambassador to the EU Selim Yenel.
George Maloney proposes a defense pact that would avoid direct involvement of European militaries in the war. The deaths of soldiers would automatically raise questions about NATO's response and could lead to uncontrolled escalation, Maloney says.
Politico also reminds us of the shadow of the Budapest Memorandum. For Ukraine, these are not the first “guarantees” that remain declarative and are not backed up by specific mechanisms. Therefore, even against the backdrop of new plans from the US and Europe, skepticism is felt.
The allies are discussing different models, but cannot give a clear answer as to whether a real security system capable of stopping Russia will be created this time.
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