Washington Hosts U.S. and European Talks on Ukraine Peace

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Top military officials from the United States and several European nations gathered in Washington this week to discuss potential military options aimed at supporting diplomatic efforts for peace in Ukraine, according to the U.S. Joint Staff.

General Dan Caine, representing the U.S., met with senior defense leaders from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine on Tuesday and Wednesday. The discussions centered on how military planning could assist ongoing negotiations to bring an end to the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three and a half years ago.

A Joint Staff spokesperson confirmed that the group “developed military options to support negotiations to bring a lasting peace to Europe.” These proposals will now be reviewed by national security advisors in each participating country, who will decide how the plans might be integrated into broader diplomatic strategies.

While the U.S. statement did not reveal specific details of the options discussed, officials noted that the talks coincided with wider European efforts to form a coalition capable of providing Ukraine with long-term security guarantees. Britain and France are leading this initiative, which aims to deter any future Russian aggression by offering credible defense commitments.

On the opening day of the Washington talks, a U.S. defense official told AFP that the focus was on determining “best options for a potential Ukraine peace deal.” The official stressed that the military dimension would be designed to complement diplomatic negotiations, not replace them.

President Donald Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a central foreign policy goal, pursuing direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, despite shifting from the previous U.S. approach of isolating Moscow, Trump has yet to achieve a breakthrough. Zelensky has consistently emphasized that Ukraine requires firm security guarantees before entering direct negotiations with Russia.

Moscow has dismissed Ukraine’s conditions, with Russian officials accusing Kyiv of rejecting “long-term” peace solutions. On Thursday, Russia argued that Ukraine’s demands for security commitments were incompatible with its own objectives.

The high-level military discussions in Washington highlight the significant role the United States and its European allies continue to play in shaping potential pathways toward ending the war. For Ukraine, support from the U.S. and NATO allies remains critical, both on the battlefield and in any eventual negotiations. For Russia, Western backing for Ukraine represents a central obstacle to securing terms favorable to Moscow.

Although the outcome of these discussions is uncertain, the talks underline ongoing coordination among Western powers to align military planning with diplomatic initiatives. The development of joint security strategies is seen as a way to reinforce Ukraine’s negotiating position while signaling to Russia that allied support for Kyiv will continue.