Air support for Ukraine? Trump floats security guarantee
President Trump is floating providing U.S. pilots and warplanes as part of security guarantees for post-war Ukraine as he pushes for an end to Russia’s war against the country.
Trump has said the U.S. will help Europe craft security guarantees for Ukraine to backstop any peace deal reached with Russia, in lieu of Ukraine joining NATO, a red line for Russia.
“When it comes to security, they are willing to put people on the ground,” Trump said in an interview on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning, referring to Europe. “We’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably, if you talk about by air because nobody has stuff we have.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trump has tasked his national security team to “come up with a framework for these security guarantees that can be acceptable to help ensure a lasting peace and end this war.”
“I won’t, certainly, rule out anything as far as military options that the president has at his disposal, I’ll let him do that,” she said, adding the president has “definitively” ruled out boots on the ground.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday said Trump’s willingness to involve the U.S. in security guarantees for Ukraine was a “breakthrough” in the peace process, though details on America’s potential role remain scarce.
Trump’s floating the possibility of air support could mean American pilots engaged in defensive operations, guarding against Russian missiles, or simply providing support for other aircraft — such as air-to-air refueling or for transportation of military equipment.
Defensive operations could risk a confrontation between the U.S. and Russia, a scenario that both Trump and former President Biden before him have been anxious to avoid.
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.
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Upcoming things we’re watching in and around the defense world:
The Institute for Defense and Government Advancementwill hold Day 2 of its “2025 Counter UAS Summit,” at 8:55 a.m. tomorrow.
Peterson Institute for International Economicswill have a virtual discussion on “Are the Sanctions on Russia Finally Working?” tomorrow at 9 a.m.
The Center for Strategic and International Studieswill host an online talk on “The Future of U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Cooperation,” with Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
The Center for Strategic and International Studieswill also hold a virtual media briefing on “Previewing White House Visit of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung,” tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Jews United for Democracy and Justicewill discuss “How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine,” with retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, former director for European affairs at the National Security Council at 8 p.m. tomorrow.
What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets:
Air Force chief’s sudden retirement raises question of ‘who is next’ in leadership shake-up (Military.com)
Air, Space Force budgets seek to boost weapons, cut civilian jobs (Military Times)
US destroyers head toward waters off Venezuela as Trump aims to pressure drug cartels (The Associated Press)
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