US and Europe plan Ukraine security guarantees
U.S. and European military leaders have presented options to their national security advisors for providing security guarantees to Ukraine.
The move follows US President Donald Trump's pledge to help protect Ukraine as part of any deal to end the war. A Pentagon statement said US and European planners have developed military options for allied national security advisors to consider.
Defence chiefs from the US, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and Ukraine met in Washington, D.C. for three days of talks.
A source familiar with the matter said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Mr Trump's national security advisor, held a conference call with his European counterparts on Thursday to discuss the options.
Final details are yet to be decided, the source said, but European countries will likely "shoulder the majority of the burden" for any forces involved in the security guarantees.
One option would be to deploy European forces to Ukraine, with the US retaining command and control, sources told Reuters. Mr Trump has said he would not deploy US troops to Ukraine, but US air support could be provided in various ways, including more air defence systems or the enforcement of a no-fly zone with US fighter jets, Agerpres reports.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
