President Donald Trump is considering offering U.S. military air support—potentially including pilots and aircraft—as part of security assurances for Ukraine once its war with Russia ends.
In a Tuesday interview on Fox & Friends, Trump said the U.S. is prepared to assist European allies in crafting security guarantees for Ukraine, which would serve as an alternative to NATO membership—a major sticking point for Moscow.
“When it comes to security, [Europe is] willing to put people on the ground,” Trump said. “We’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably, if you talk about by air, because nobody has stuff we have.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump has directed his national security team to develop a framework for these guarantees aimed at securing a lasting peace. While she said no military options are currently off the table, Leavitt emphasized that Trump has “definitively” ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called Trump’s openness to U.S. involvement a “breakthrough” for peace negotiations, though specifics on America’s potential role remain unclear.
The proposed air support could involve U.S. pilots conducting defensive missions, protecting Ukrainian airspace from Russian missiles, or assisting with operations like air-to-air refueling and military transport.
However, such involvement could raise the risk of direct confrontation between U.S. and Russian forces—an escalation both Trump and former President Biden have previously sought to avoid. Biden notably rejected Ukraine’s call for a no-fly zone early in the war, citing the danger of triggering direct conflict between nuclear powers.