President Donald Trump’s message to European allies is clear: the training wheels are off when it comes to Ukraine’s security. He is demanding that Europe take the lead, a position he recently communicated to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This new, more assertive stance was solidified in an August 18 meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials. Trump used the meeting to signal an end to the U.S. acting as the primary security provider in the region.
The central component of this policy is that “significant security guarantees” for Ukraine must now be a European responsibility. The U.S. will transition to a “backup” role, supporting the continent’s own security initiatives.
This shift is part of a wider dialogue Trump is having with Putin. He has also revealed that these conversations include the long-term goal of reducing their nuclear arsenals, a topic that was discussed during an August 15 meeting in Alaska.