Putin backs ‘security guarantees’ for Ukraine – Trump

Trump is hosting Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and Ukraine’s key European backers at the White House. The gathering comes three days after a Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, which both leaders hailed as a positive step toward resolving the Ukraine conflict.

“President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine,” Trump said, without elaborating. “This is one of the key points that we need to consider. We are going to be considering that at the table also, like who would do what.”

“Essentially, I’m optimistic that collectively we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine,” he added.

Ukraine has been insisting on guarantees similar to NATO’s collective defense as one of the preconditions for a lasting peace. Both Russia and the US have ruled out Ukraine’s membership in the US-led alliance.