The United States is floating a novel security guarantee for a post-war Ukraine: peace maintained, in part, by American airpower. This idea was introduced as the White House works to set up a summit between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine.
The concept was first raised by President Donald Trump, who emphasized that while U.S. soldiers would not be sent, America’s unparalleled air capabilities could be part of a security solution. “We’re willing to help them with things… especially, probably, if you talk about by air,” he said. The White House later confirmed this is an active option.
This new dimension to security guarantees comes amid a major diplomatic push. The U.S. is trying to broker a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming to have secured Putin’s agreement for talks within two weeks. Moscow, however, has signaled a preference for a more deliberate preparatory phase.
The proposed talks are designed to be highly focused. President Zelenskyy has stated he will address the critical issue of territory directly with Putin. The broader security framework, which could include the U.S. airpower component, is being developed in separate discussions between Ukraine and its international partners, including NATO.