Military options for Ukraine developed, will be presented to Western national security advisers, says US

WASHINGTON - Military chiefs from the United States and a number of European countries have completed military options on Ukraine and will now present the options to their respective national security advisers, the US military said on Aug 21.

Reuters has previously reported that US and European military planners have begun exploring post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine, following President Donald Trump’s pledge to help protect the country under any deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“These options will be presented to each nation’s respective national security advisers for appropriate consideration in ongoing diplomatic efforts,” a US military statement said.

The meetings between the chiefs of defence for the US, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ukraine took place in Washington, DC, between Aug 19 and 21. 

Reuters was first to report on the completion of the plans that will be presented to the national security advisers.

Ukraine and its European allies have been buoyed by Mr Trump's promise during

a summit on Aug 18

of security guarantees for Kyiv, but many questions remain unanswered.

Officials have cautioned that it would take time for US and European planners to determine what would be both militarily feasible and acceptable to the Kremlin.

One option was sending European forces to Ukraine but putting the US in charge of their command and control, sources have told Reuters. 

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has said it will not accept the deployment of troops from Nato countries to help secure a peace deal.

Mr Trump has publicly

ruled out deploying US troops

in Ukraine but on Aug 19 appeared to leave the door open to other US military involvement.

US air support

could come in a variety of ways, including providing more air defence systems to Ukraine and enforcing a no-fly zone with US fighter jets.

Mr Trump has pressed for a quick end to Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years, and Kyiv and its allies have worried he could seek to force an agreement on Russia’s terms after the president last week

rolled out the red carpet

for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Russia says it is engaged in a “special military operation” in Ukraine to protect its national security, claiming Nato’s eastward expansion and Western military support for Ukraine pose existential threats.

Kyiv and its Western allies say the invasion is an imperial-style land grab. REUTERS