Donald Trump could deploy private army to Ukraine to keep Vladimir Putin at bay

Donald Trump could send private American militias to Ukraine as part of a long-term peace plan with Russia.

Trumpis discussing the prospect of sendingarmed contractorsto protect American interests in the war-battered nation with his European counterparts. It would be a loophole which would allow him to keep his base supporters pleased, and maintain his promise of refusing to send American soldiers on to Ukrainian soil. These hired guns would be sent to protect US businesses and could help rebuild Ukraine's front line defences.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has long stressed that a peace deal would require security guarantees to prevent Vladimir Putin launching a follow-up invasion.

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The decision would be part of a range of security guarantees being tabled by the "coalition of the willing", a group of nations who've agreed to protect Ukraine once a deal is reached. It's being led by the UK and France.

Among the measures are air policing, training, and Black Sea naval missions, all of which are expected to be announced within the coming days.

Following an example from what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, the private military contractors could build front-line fortifications and bases to support the Ukrainian war effort. European leaders are hoping for Trump to agree - as any kind of American presence would be a major boost and deterrent for Putin.

The idea was first presented when Kyiv and Washington signed a deal earlier this year which allowed the US to plunder some of Ukraine's rich mineral and earth resources.

While the White House has outright refused to send American national soldiers, Trump has agreed to support European efforts for a peace deal. Speaking to the Telegraph, a Whitehall source said putting "American boots" on the ground would be the "deterrent to Putin".

It comes after Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a powerful message of defiance - saying Ukraine would keep fighting until a "just peace" is reached.

In an address in Kyiv to mark his nation's independence day, he said its future is "up to us alone". And he pledged Ukraine "will never again in history be forced into the shame that Russians call compromise". Trump continues to push Putin to meet with Zelensky.

In a recent speech, the Ukrainian President said: "We are building a Ukraine that will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace. What our future will be is up to us alone."