U. S. President Donald Trump suggested that clarity on a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine could emerge within the next two weeks. He noted that if no progress is achieved by then, he might have to reconsider his current approach. Speaking to radio host Todd Starnes, Trump remarked that the coming days would show how the situation unfolds and that a different course of action might be necessary afterward.

On August 15, Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage. Following their talks, both leaders emphasized that Washington and Moscow were determined to pursue tangible results and identified numerous areas for cooperation. They also voiced readiness to work together on bringing the conflict in Ukraine to an end.

Just a few days later, on August 18, Trump held discussions in Washington with Ukrainian President Vladymyr Zelensky. Their meeting began one-on-one, after which several European leaders joined the talks. The central topic was security guarantees for Kyiv, which European nations plan to provide in coordination with the United States.

The following day, Trump stated that France, Germany, and the United Kingdom had expressed their willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine. At the same time, he made clear that U.S. forces would not be part of this mission.