Russia will accept security guarantees for Ukraine — Trump

US President, Donald Trump has said Russia has agreed, in principle, to accept security guarantees for Ukraine as part of ongoing efforts to end the war.

Speaking in Washington on Monday, Trump described the development as a “significant step” that could pave the way for peace after more than two years of conflict.

Trump said Friday’s Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin reinforced his belief that peace is “within reach”.

He said, “I think the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden. We’re going to help them.”

He insisted that Moscow’s shift in position showed that “peace is within reach” if all parties remain committed.

According to Trump, security guarantees for Kyiv are now among the “key points” on the table.

“We’ll be considering who will do what, essentially. But what’s important is that Russia is no longer rejecting the idea outright,” he said

Trump added that he was optimistic the group could reach an agreement to deter future aggression against Ukraine.

“I think the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden,” he told reporters. “We’re going to help them.”

The Alaska summit marked the first time Putin and Trump had met since their tense encounter in Helsinki in 2018, where questions over Russian interference in US elections overshadowed any substantive progress.

This time, however, both leaders appeared more willing to discuss difficult compromises.

One of the more contentious issues expected to dominate discussions is the prospect of territorial exchanges.

Trump confirmed that this possibility had been raised, though he gave no specifics on which regions were under consideration. Analysts say this echoes past failed attempts at “land-for-peace” frameworks, which Kyiv has resisted.

The issue of security guarantees has long been central to Ukraine’s demands.

During his February visit to Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed Trump and European leaders for “everything” weapons, intelligence, training, and manpower.

That meeting ended acrimoniously, with Trump reluctant to commit to long-term US involvement.

Monday’s remarks suggest a slight shift in tone.

Trump indicated that while Washington would not be the “first line of defence,” the US would remain actively involved in supporting Ukraine. “We’ll give them good protection,” he said.

The idea of a trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and Putin is also gaining momentum.

Trump said it was now a matter of “when, not if,” raising hopes that direct talks could accelerate peace negotiations. Zelensky has repeatedly sought such an encounter, though Putin has consistently rebuffed him until now.

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