Washington: Senior military officials from the United States and several European countries have completed a set of military options aimed at providing security guarantees to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The plans are scheduled to be presented to their respective national security advisers for review and further deliberation.

Between August 19 and 21, chiefs of defense from the United States, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine convened in Washington, D.C., to develop these options as part of broader efforts to establish a framework for ending the conflict with Russia.

While the United States has ruled out sending its troops to Ukraine, it is considering other forms of military support, including supplying advanced air defense systems and potentially establishing a no-fly zone. U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio coordinated a conference call with European counterparts to discuss these options.

European nations are expected to provide the bulk of forces under the proposed security arrangements. However, the prospect of deploying European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine has sparked debate in Germany. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed cautious openness to German participation, emphasizing the need for coordination with European partners and approval from the Bundestag.

Russia has rejected any deployment of NATO forces and continues its military operations in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that detailed preparatory work is needed for any potential meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Lavrov also questioned Zelenskiy’s legitimacy, noting that his presidential term technically ended in May 2024 and elections have not been held due to the ongoing war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for strong U.S. support should Putin refuse a bilateral meeting, highlighting the significance of the discussions in shaping Ukraine’s future security architecture.

The completion of these military options marks a key step toward establishing security guarantees for Ukraine, reflecting a coordinated effort by the United States and European allies to support Kyiv in the ongoing conflict with Russia.