TRUMP: I'LL GET IT DONE

DONALD Trump's peacekeeping efforts for Ukraine look unlikely to break the stalemate.

- BY CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

As he met Volodymyr Zelensky and western leaders at the White House he promised the Ukrainian president security guarantees, refusing to rule out putting US troops on the ground in a peace deal.

But Vladimir Putin warned the deployment of Nato forces would lead to an "uncontrollable escalation of the conflict".

When asked if he would authorise a military presence under a postwar agreement, Trump said: "We'll let you know that, maybe later today."

But Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, said: "We reaffirm our repeatedly stated position on the categorical rejection of any scenarios involving the appearance of Nato military contingents in Ukraine, which threatens uncontrollable escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences."

That seemed to cast doubt on Trump's boast earlier in the day, when he hit back at critics of his meeting with Vladimir Putin, posting: "Despite all of my lightweight and very jealous critics, I'll get it done - I always do!!!"

Trump's openness to a peacekeeping role startled diplomats at the talks.

For Kyiv, guarantees of security remain a linchpin of any settlement with the Kremlin. Making clear that the US would not sit on the sidelines and leave it to European forces, Trump said: "They are the first line of defence, because they're there, Europe. But we're going to help them out. Also, we'll be involved.

"If we can get to peace, it's going to work. I have no doubt about it."