Secretary of State Marco Rubio told European counterparts Thursday the US will participate in post-war security guarantees for Ukraine but that the Trump administration believes Europe should take the lead, according to a European diplomat familiar with the call.
During a call with European national security advisers, Rubio, who is also President Donald Trump’s acting national security adviser, did not provide details on specific security guarantees to which the US might commit, the diplomat said.
But the call, which an administration official confirmed had occurred, adds momentum at a critical time when Europe is eager for continued engagement from the Trump administration, the diplomat said. As Trump has pushed for Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace agreement, negotiations among allies over how to ensure Moscow won’t attack again in the future have accelerated.
The US has indicated it is open to playing a limited role in providing security guarantees to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached with Russia, which could potentially see US pilots flying manned air support missions, sources familiar with discussions with allies this week told CNN.
Trump has ruled out deploying US troops on the ground, but the US and its allies are combing through a range of other options, the sources said.
