Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Following his talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Aug. 18 that he expects progress on Ukraine’s security guarantees to be finalized today.
Speaking in the East Room alongside Zelensky and various European leaders, Trump added that: "...(W)e will come to a resolution today, I think, on almost everything, including probably the security."
European allies had sought to reaffirm Trump’s full support for Ukraine after his recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the U.S. leader described as "very warm."
Joining Presidents Zelensky and Trump at the meeting were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Trump added that the recent Alaska summit reinforced his belief that "while difficult pieces were then reached – and I believe that in a very significant step – President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine, and this is one of the key points that we need to consider." He also stressed that "collectively, we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine."
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the meeting a potential "historic step" for both Ukrainian and broader European security. Starmer confirmed that Trump’s proposal for "Article-5 style" security guarantees aligns with the work Ukraine's main European allies, known as the "Coalition of the Willing," have been doing for months. He added that the coalition is "prepared to step up to the plate" when it comes to guaranteeing Ukraine's security.
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