Nick Schifrin:
In Northeast Ukraine today, on day 1,273 of this full-scale war, life looks like hell. And for the residents of Sumy today who escaped their homes hit by a Russian drone, peace feels impossibly distant.
This is the kind of attack that 32 NATO military chiefs met today to try and help Ukraine prevent. They plan security guarantees to protect a postwar Ukraine, as did Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine, whom European officials tell “PBS News Hour” met his European counterparts today in the Pentagon.
France and Britain are willing to deploy thousands of troops into Ukraine to help observe any peace deal. They would also help support and train Ukrainian troops, Europe’s most capable military, often fighting with Western weapons that need maintenance.
But they can’t do it alone. European forces need American intelligence, coordination, logistics and weapons. Ukraine wants $90 billion worth of American weapons paid by Europe, both offensive and defensive, including Patriot air defense. The U.S. publicly hasn’t revealed how much military support it will provide, but it will include assistance from the air, President Trump said yesterday in a FOX News phone call.
Donald Trump, President of the United States: When it comes to security, they’re willing to put people on the ground. We’re willing to help them with things, especially probably if you talk about by air.
We will give them very good protection, very good security.
