POLITICO: US has no 'red line' on sending troops to Ukraine
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Following Trump’s meeting with Zelensky and European leaders, Washington signals stronger security guarantees to Ukraine, not excluding sending US troops to Ukraine.
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President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The United States has no fixed "red line" when it comes to sending troops to Ukraine as part of its security guarantees, according to a report by Politico. A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Politico that Washington is not ruling out the possibility of sending peacekeeping forces if necessary. "I don’t think there’s a red line," the official was quoted as saying.
At the same time, The Washington Post reported that no concrete discussions have taken place yet, emphasizing that any deployment would likely not be permanent. Even so, the possibility of US troops in Ukraine highlights Washington’s shifting stance on how far it is willing to go in providing security assurances to Kiev.
Trump-Zelensky meeting and security guarantees
On August 18, US President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders at the White House in a meeting that marked a turning point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump pledged that the US would take part in Ukraine’s security guarantees, while European nations would serve as the "first line of defense."
Zelensky announced that the guarantees would be formalized within ten days, including commitments to maintain a strong Ukrainian army, a major US weapons package, and expanded domestic drone production. Washington and Kiev discussed a massive $90 billion arms deal, covering aircraft, air defense systems, and other equipment. In addition, the US agreed to purchase Ukrainian-made drones to boost the country’s defense industry.
Following the summit, Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential direct talks between Moscow and Kiev. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described the conversation as "candid and constructive," noting that a bilateral Putin-Zelensky meeting was being planned, potentially followed by a trilateral format involving Trump.
Moscow’s reaction
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the idea of NATO state troops on Ukrainian soil, even under a peacekeeping banner, as an unacceptable threat to Russia. Moscow has repeatedly warned that the presence of foreign forces in Ukraine would escalate the conflict rather than resolve it.
Despite the cautious optimism surrounding new negotiations, key issues remain unresolved. Questions over territorial control, the timing of a potential ceasefire, and Russia’s objections to Western troops continue to cast uncertainty over the path to a durable settlement.
