President Donald Trump is promoting a new blueprint for peace in Ukraine, one that is designed and led by Europeans. He outlined this vision in a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This blueprint was first shared with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials on August 18. In that meeting, Trump made his case for a new security architecture where the U.S. plays a supporting, rather than a leading, role.
According to this plan, the “significant security guarantees” that Ukraine needs must come from its European neighbors. Trump has been clear that the United States will serve as “backup,” a move that empowers European nations to take charge of their own regional security.
This new framework is being discussed in the context of broader U.S.-Russia strategic talks. Trump has mentioned that his dialogue with Putin also includes the ambitious goal of post-conflict nuclear arms reduction.