Trump: I think I'll know the attitude of Russia and Ukraine. In 2 weeks I’m going to make a decision. It’s going to be very important — massive sanctions, massive tariffs, both, or do nothing and say it’s your fight. 1/
Trump on ceasefire: It takes two to tango. I wanted to have a meeting with those two. I could have been at the meeting, but people think nothing's going to come out. Maybe that's true, maybe not. People continue to die. 2/
Trump: There's a lot of anger, a lot of hatred. There's a tremendous amount of hatred there. But we'll see what happens.
I think in two weeks we'll know which way I'm going. Because I'm going to go one way or the other. And they'll learn which way I'm going. 3Х
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Zelenskyy: This month Ukraine raised $1.5B from EU partners to buy U.S. weapons - Patriots, HIMARS, missiles. (Pearl program).
Rutte: 2 layers of security guarantees:
1. A strong Ukrainian army after peace.
2. Guarantees by the U.S. and Europe. (Not like Budapest or Minsk) 1/
Zelenskyy: We have no agreements with Russians.
We agreed with President Trump, and he is the only person who can stop Putin in my view.
I don’t want to set conditions that could later be used as obstacles to end the war.
2/
Zelenskyy: Ukraine needs $1–1.5B monthly for Pearl program. Domestic drone industry has $6B gap. Drones are weapon No.1, reducing losses and holding the front.
Rutte: NATO’s 5% GDP defense spending deal will also finance weapons for Ukraine.
Bolton: People discuss an Article 5-like guarantee for Ukraine since NATO is ruled out by Russia and Trump. It says members act as they deem appropriate, very vague. Could mean force, or just a note. If language satisfies Ukraine, question remains: will forces back it up? 1/
Bolton: Merz faces pressure from AFD and Social Democrats. Deploying forces looks warlike, but key is how they fit into the security guarantee. Germany has sent troops to UN missions. Peacekeepers only observe and report, like Rwanda, not fix the situation. 2/
Bolton: Lavrov said security guarantees should involve the 5 permanent UN Security Council members, including Russia and China. Moscow proposed this before in Turkey. Many see it as legitimacy, unlike in the US. Russians may use it as cover for their aims. 3/
Giorgia Meloni proposes a NATO-light guarantee for Ukraine. If Russia attacks again, allies must decide within 24 hours on military and economic aid, reports Bloomberg.
Modeled on NATO’s Article 5, but without membership, using Italy’s 2024 security pact with Kyiv as blueprint.
1/
At the Aug 18 White House meeting, Trump, Zelensky, and EU leaders agreed on firmer guarantees.
Trump ruled out U.S. troops but suggested air support. France and the UK are weighing troop deployments as part of wider security guarantees.
2/
Italian Defense Min. Crosetto: NATO would be a “superior deterrent,” but individual nations could commit if NATO won’t.
Meloni first pitched NATO-style guarantees in March 2025. She now positions herself as bridge between Trump and Europe.
3/