US, Europe, Ukraine Discuss Security Guarantees, Peace Talks With Russia

Recent diplomatic engagements involving President Trump, Ukrainian President Zelensky, and European leaders have shifted the discussion on Ukraine from idealistic goals to pragmatic solutions, including potential territorial concessions by Ukraine. Trump's summit with Russian President Putin in Alaska, while criticized for lacking concrete progress, reestablished direct dialogue between the U.S. and Russia and introduced a more realistic approach to peace talks. Following this, meetings in Washington saw Trump receiving support from European nations like the U.K. and France, who expressed willingness to deploy ground troops as a reassurance force should a peace agreement be reached. Ukrainian officials, including advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, view the possibility of U.S. air cover as a positive development, while Zelensky has indicated readiness for meetings with Putin and expressed openness to security guarantees, albeit without clearly conceding territory. Although no formal ceasefire or detailed peace plan has emerged, the dialogue now involves discussing territorial swaps largely at Ukraine's expense in exchange for Western-backed security guarantees. Overall, these developments mark a significant and adult-level shift in the approach toward resolving the war, with Trump positioning himself as a central figure in negotiating the peace deal.