Vance: Lion's share among Europeans: US wants to play only minimal role in security guarantees

To what extent will the United States participate in securing a possible peace between Russia and Ukraine? NATO partners are currently trying to determine this. Apparently, the Europeans cannot hold out much hope for support.

The US government apparently wants to leave any future security guarantees for Ukraine largely to the Europeans, according to the US news site Politico . High-ranking Pentagon official Elbridge Colby made it clear at a meeting with the defense ministers of Germany, Great Britain, France, and Finland that the US intends to play only a minimal role.

Politico, citing European insiders familiar with the meeting, led by Chief of Staff General Dan Caine, said the EU defense ministers inquired about what troops and air power the US would provide to secure a potential peace agreement with Russia.

On Monday, leading EU politicians and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump in Washington. Trump proposed security guarantees based on Article 5 of the NATO treaty, with details expected to be negotiated in the near future. Trump told Fox News that the so-called Coalition of the Willing, made up of Ukraine's European allies, was "ready to deploy personnel on the ground." The US, for its part, was "presumably" prepared to provide air support.

According to Politico, the meeting of defense ministers and a video conference of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the 32 NATO member states on Wednesday are increasing fears among Ukraine's partners that Trump is relying entirely on the EU for peacekeeping. "It's becoming apparent that it will be up to Europe to implement this on the ground," the website quoted a NATO diplomat as saying. The US hasn't really committed to anything.

US Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed this impression in an interview with Fox News. "I don't think we should be bearing the burden here," he told the US broadcaster. Trump expects Europe to take the lead. "No matter what form this takes, the Europeans will have to bear the lion's share of the burden. It's their continent, it's their security, and the president has been very clear – they need to take more responsibility here," Vance said.