Trump appeared to suggest that the US was willing to provide an economic backstop instead – meaning Americans would be present in Ukraine, as part of a minerals deal, and this would be sufficient to deter the Russians.
As Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads to Washington to meet Donald Trump, questions remain over the future of Ukraine and the country’s war with Russia.
Speaking last week in Kyiv, the Labour MP Alex Sobel said it would mean Nato air cover – to protect western troops and to stop Moscow from violating any ceasefire.
He has also said that Nato membership would be the best guarantee of future security in Ukraine, something Trump has ruled out.
Key Ukrainian allies including the UK, France and recently Turkey have said they are ready to send troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping or “peace-assuring” force.
