“Europe is Right There”: Trump Justifies Push for EU to Lead on Ukraine

Citing geographical proximity, President Donald Trump has justified his push for European nations to take the lead in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, stating simply, “they are right there.” This comment came after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The call with Putin was part of a broader diplomatic effort that included hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies in Washington on August 18 to discuss Ukraine’s long-term security.
In his remarks, Trump emphasized this geographical logic as the basis for his policy. While the U.S. will provide “backup,” he insisted the primary responsibility for the “significant security guarantees” should fall to Ukraine’s neighbors.
This regional focus is paired with a global one in Trump’s talks with Putin. He also revealed an August 15 meeting in Alaska where they discussed the long-term goal of reducing their nuclear stockpiles once the Ukraine war ends.