Trump ‘Willing’ To Back Ukraine With American Air Power
President Donald Trump made clear Tuesday that while no U.S. troops will set foot in Ukraine under his leadership, he is open to providing American air support as part of a broader push for a negotiated peace between Kyiv and Moscow.
In an interview on “Fox & Friends,” Trump said European allies may send soldiers on the ground, but the United States’ unmatched strength lies in its air power. “We’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably, if you talk about by air because nobody has stuff we have,” he said.
The president explained that both Russia and Ukraine are reaching exhaustion, making this the right moment to push for a deal. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. I think if a deal is made… I think Russia’s had it, they’ve all had it. And for a very extended period of time, I don’t think there will be a problem. But there will be some form of security. It can’t be NATO because that’s just not something that would ever, ever happen,” Trump stated.
Trump tells @foxandfriends that the U.S. may give Ukraine air support as part of the peace deal.
“It’s a different kind of a thing for them…when it comes to security, they are willing to put people on the ground, we ‘re willing to help them with things, especially, probably,… pic.twitter.com/7CxucrpMMy
— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) August 19, 2025
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that air support remains on the table as a possibility, emphasizing that credible security guarantees will be critical to any peace settlement. Trump reiterated his pledge to the American public that no U.S. boots will be on the ground in Ukraine. “You have my assurance — and I’m president. I’m just trying to stop people from being killed,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to push for strong international security guarantees as part of any peace terms. Russia, however, has consistently rejected the possibility of NATO military presence in Ukraine, warning such a move would risk dangerous escalation.
Earlier this year, Trump noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled openness to the idea of European peacekeepers if a deal is struck with Kyiv. “He will accept that,” Trump said in February, adding that he directly asked Putin about it and was told there was “no problem with it.”