The White House Says a Security Guarantee for Ukraine will not Include Troops on the Ground

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: The White House Says a Security Guarantee for Ukraine will not Include Troops on the Ground

Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Lisa Lucera (FOX News Podcasts)
Main Theme:
This episode covers several major news items, leading with the White House’s announcement that any U.S. security guarantee to Ukraine will not include deploying U.S. troops on the ground. Additional stories include updates on U.S.-Ukraine-Russia diplomatic efforts, domestic immigration policy, changes in FBI leadership, New Zealand’s first espionage trial, and a survey revealing young Americans’ struggles with inflation and social spending.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Security Guarantees for Ukraine

• No U.S. Troops on the Ground

  • After President Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and European leaders, the White House clarified that U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine would not mean sending American soldiers into Ukraine.
  • Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary:
    • "U.S. troops will not deploy to Ukraine as part of any peacekeeping or security force." [00:17]
    • "We can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies." [00:25]
    • On possible military support:
      "Could include the use of U.S. air power. It is an option and a possibility. I won’t certainly rule out anything as far as military options that the president has at his disposal... But I can tell you he’s definitively ruled out boots on the ground." [00:32–00:47]

• Diplomatic Efforts

  • Ongoing negotiations for a direct meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Putin, with the possibility of Hungary hosting the talks.
    • "Talks continue to set up a meeting directly between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin." [00:47]
    • President Trump spoke with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban about potentially hosting such talks in Budapest. [00:55]

2. Domestic Immigration Policy Updates

• Nebraska Immigration Detention Center

  • Nebraska’s Governor Jim Pillin announced plans to build a new immigration detention center in the southwestern part of the state.

• Alligator Alcatraz Lawsuit

  • A federal judge dismissed part of a lawsuit concerning detained migrants’ access to immigration courts since proceedings have moved closer to the facility.
  • Unnamed Federal Judge:
    • "The complaint over detained migrants not having access to immigration courts is now moot... The remainder of the ACLU's complaint that detained persons have limited access to lawyers is allowed to proceed, but the case is now ordered out of the Southern District of Florida to the Middle District." [01:24–01:51]

3. DOJ and FBI Leadership News

• New Deputy FBI Directors
  • Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will become co-Deputy Director of the FBI, joining Dan Bongino.
    • Bailey is "a tough on crime supporter of President Trump" and opposed Biden’s student loan forgiveness program.
    • "Bailey becomes the latest Missouri attorney general to end up in Washington. Current Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt had the job before Bailey in Washington." [02:18–02:56]

4. International News: Espionage in New Zealand

• First Espionage Case
  • A New Zealand soldier pleaded guilty to attempting to spy for a foreign country in the country’s first ever espionage prosecution.
    • Details on the country and soldier remain undisclosed, but the charges stem from 2019 attempts to communicate military information to a presumed foreign agent.
    • "Each of the three charges against him carries a maximum prison term of either seven or ten years in prison." [02:56–03:27]

5. Financial Impact on Young Americans

• Ally Financial Survey
  • Nearly half of Gen Z and Millennials say "friendship is taking too big of a bite out of their budgets," with 44% skipping major social events to save money.
    • 42% report overspending a few times each year; 18% overspend every other month.
    • Only 18% actively budget for social spending.
    • 59% say their financial goals (student loans, homebuying) are impacted by social expenditures.
    • 23% found ways to spend time with friends without spending money. [03:27–04:06]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Caroline Levitt, on U.S. military options:
  "I won’t certainly rule out anything as far as military options that the president has at his disposal... But I can tell you he’s definitively ruled out boots on the ground." [00:32–00:47]

• Ally Financial Survey, on the strain of friendship costs:
  "A lot of Gen Z and millennials are feeling that friendship is taking too big of a bite out of their budgets, with 44% saying they've skipped major social events because of cost." [03:27]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 – White House statement on U.S. troops and Ukraine
• 00:17 – Direct quote from press secretary Caroline Levitt
• 00:47 – Ongoing diplomatic efforts between Ukraine and Russia
• 01:24 – Federal judge on Florida migrant detention lawsuit
• 02:18 – DOJ names new deputy FBI directors
• 02:56 – New Zealand soldier espionage case
• 03:27 – Survey on finances and social life for young Americans

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Summary:
This episode delivers concise coverage of global diplomatic moves, shifting U.S. military policy, domestic legal developments, international espionage, and generational economic pressures—all with Fox News' hallmark directness and focus on actionable updates.

Transcript

[Lisa Lucera]

Reassurances from the White House. I'm Lisa Lucera, FOX News. One day after President Trump met at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, the White House says a security guarantee for Ukraine will not include U.S. troops on the ground.

[Caroline Levitt]

U.S. troops will not deploy to Ukraine as part of any peacekeeping or security force. White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt says.

But we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European all that.

Could include the use of US Air power.

It is an option and a possibility. I won't certainly rule out anything as far as military options that the president has at his disposal. I'll let him do that. I can tell you he's definitively ruled out. Boots on the ground.

Levitt also says talks continue to set up a meeting directly between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

[Lisa Lucera]

Talks is Jared Halpern at the White House. A White House official says President Trump and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke yesterday about the possibility of having Budapest hosts potential talks between Zelenskyy and Putin. Nebraska Republican Governor Jim Pillin has announced plans for an immigration detention center in a farming area in the state's southwest corner. This is A federal judge in Florida dismisses part of a lawsuit against the federal government over the use of the migrant detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz.

[Unnamed Federal Judge]

A federal judge in Miami says the complaint over detained migrants not having access to immigration courts is now moot as the administration is now holding immigration proceedings in a near location. The remainder of the ACLU's complaint that detained persons have limited access to lawyers is allowed to proceed, but the case is now ordered out of the Southern District of Florida to the Middle District as Alligator Alley geographically is located there.

[Lisa Lucera]

FOX is Eben Brown, america's Listening to FOX News.

[Bret Bear]

Listen to the all new Bret Bear podcast featuring common ground in depth talks with lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle along with all your Bret Bear favorites, flake, his all star panel and much more. Available [e-mail] or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lisa Lucera]

The Department of Justice adds a new deputy FBI director.

[Ryan Schmell]

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will serve alongside Dan Bongino as co deputy director of the FBI. Bailey has positioned himself as a tough on crime supporter of President Trump who's testified before Congress about allegations of the federal government being weaponized against the president. Bailey was also one of several Republican attorneys general who challenge President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan before the Supreme Court. He becomes the latest Missouri attorney general to end up in Washington. Current Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmidt had the job before Bailey in Washington. Ryan Schmell's Fox News A New Zealand.

[Lisa Lucera]

Soldier has admitted to trying to spy for a foreign country in New Zealand's first case of espionage. The soldier's name and the country he was trying to spy for have not been released. Military court documents show the man believed he was speaking with a foreign agent in 2019 when he tried to communicate military information. Each of the three charges against him carries a maximum prison term of either seven or ten years in prison. He's expected to be sentenced in a matter of days. A new survey takes a look at how young Americans are coping with stubbornly high prices.

[Ally Financial Survey Narrator]

A lot of Gen Z and millennials are feeling that friendship is taking too big of a bite out of their budgets, with 44% saying they've skipped major social events because of cost. Of the thousand people surveyed by Ally Financial, 42% said they overspend a few out of the year, while 18% say they overspend every other month. Only 18% said they budget for social spending, while 59% say their financial goals, such as paying off student loans or buying a home, are impacted by this spending. The survey also found the respondents prioritize friendship and 23% said they found ways to spend time together without spending money.

[Lisa Lucera]

Fox's Lillian Wu I'm Lisa Licera. This is Fox News.

[Jimmy Falla]

This is Jimmy Falla. You to join me for FOX Across America, where we'll discuss every single one of the Democrats dumb ideas. Just kidding. It's only a three hour show. Listen live at noon Eastern or get the [e-mail].