U.S. and European military planners have opened formal talks on post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine after a Washington summit that left the contours of any peace deal unclear. President Donald Trump pledged that the United States would help protect Ukraine but reiterated that no American ground troops will be deployed. Officials told Reuters and Bloomberg that roughly ten European nations, including the United Kingdom and France, are ready to field a "reassurance" force of about 30,000–50,000 personnel. The troops would serve under national flags, possibly within a U.S.-led command-and-control structure, and focus on shielding Ukrainian airspace, ports and rear areas rather than manning the front line. Trump said Washington could contribute air power or additional air-defence systems, an option now being folded into Pentagon planning exercises. Other ideas on the table include a rapid-response framework modelled on NATO’s Article 5 and a limited no-fly zone to deter renewed Russian attacks. NATO’s 32 chiefs of defence were due to confer virtually on Wednesday after Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine hosted counterparts in Washington to refine the proposals. European leaders want any agreement to oblige allies to decide within 24 hours on military aid if Russia violates a cease-fire. Moscow has already objected. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that deploying NATO troops in Ukraine without Russian consent would be a “road to nowhere,” underscoring the diplomatic hurdles that still stand between draft security concepts and a durable peace.