Overview

• During an Aug. 18 White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, President Trump phoned Vladimir Putin, said he had begun coordinating a Russia‑Ukraine leaders’ meeting, and proposed a follow‑on trilateral that includes him.
• Trump said the United States will participate in post‑conflict security guarantees for Ukraine and described a model in which Europe bears the larger share with U.S. support.
• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said roughly 30 countries, including Japan and Australia, are being lined up to take part in a guarantee framework similar to NATO’s Article 5, and Japan’s prime minister said Tokyo will examine legal and capability issues before deciding its role.
• European leaders signaled reservations, with Germany’s Friedrich Merz pressing for an immediate ceasefire and France’s Emmanuel Macron suggesting a format that keeps Europe directly involved.
• Zelensky praised the meeting and said details of the guarantees could be outlined within 10 days, while media reported Trump may back Russian proposals for Ukrainian withdrawals from parts of the Donbas and Trump declined to rule out deploying U.S. troops as military leaders discuss options.