In a major strategic shift, the United States is now actively discussing the potential deployment of its ground forces to Ukraine as part of a future peace settlement. This development, which marks a significant hardening of Western support, could prove pivotal in convincing Kyiv to end the conflict.
A Sensational Turnaround in US Policy
The discussions, confirmed by key European and Ukrainian leaders, represent a sensational turnaround in Washington's stance. The White House appears ready to commit American troops to support Ukraine should Russia violate any negotiated peace agreement. This offer of direct military backing was first revealed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and later corroborated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The proposed US security guarantees are a huge boost for Kyiv, potentially providing the assurance needed to agree to end the fighting, even if that involves territorial concessions in the eastern provinces. However, a sticking point emerged last night regarding the duration of these guarantees, with the US offering a 15-year commitment while Ukraine pushes for a significantly longer timeframe.
Putin Put on the Backfoot as Allies Unite
This move strengthens the positions of Britain and France, which to date have been the only nations to agree in principle to send land forces to a post-conflict Ukraine. Crucially, the agreement is designed to put Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the backfoot, as the Kremlin remains vehemently opposed to any permanent Western military presence in Ukraine.
The discussions come amid heightened tensions following a disputed Russian claim that Ukraine attacked Putin's private residence in Novgorod with 91 drones. Moscow's narrative has been met with increasing scepticism, as the Kremlin has failed to produce evidence. Ukraine has dismissed the allegations as 'lies' intended to sabotage peace efforts.
Path to Peace or Prolonged Stalemate?
Speaking after a NATO leaders' meeting in Berlin, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk provided cautious optimism. "Peace is on the horizon," he stated. "There is no doubt that things have happened that give grounds for hope that this war can end, and quite quickly, but it is still a hope, far from 100 per cent certain."
Tusk explicitly cited the emerging US security guarantees for Kyiv as the prime reason the conflict could conclude. He suggested these guarantees could "include the presence of American troops along the contact line between Ukraine and Russia" after a deal is signed. "These fairly unambiguous declarations have appeared for the first time," Tusk noted. "We will see how consistent our partners on the other side of the Atlantic will be."
In a parallel development, President Zelensky announced last night that he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin in a bilateral summit, signalling a potential opening for direct negotiations. The combination of hardened Western military assurances and diplomatic overtures appears to be creating a new, albeit fragile, framework for potentially ending Europe's largest land war in decades.
