Even before a summit has been confirmed, the United States is beginning to outline its post-summit vision for Ukraine: a nation secured by Western airpower, not by Western soldiers on the ground. This strategic vision is a crucial part of the overall peace package being offered.
This vision addresses a core dilemma: how to provide a credible security guarantee to Ukraine without triggering a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. Committing U.S. ground troops would be a red line for both Washington and Moscow. Air support, however, offers a powerful alternative.
President Trump’s proposal to “help them… by air” is a significant departure from previous, more ambiguous promises of support. It provides a concrete and formidable deterrent. A future aggressor would have to contend with the possibility of facing the world’s most advanced air force, a calculation that would dramatically raise the cost of any attack.
By putting this vision on the table now, the U.S. is giving Ukraine a tangible security prize to aim for in the negotiations. It is a powerful incentive for Kyiv to engage in the difficult talks on territory, knowing that a new and more secure future, guaranteed from the skies, is a potential outcome.