National Guard troops in DC are now armed, defense official says

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about President Donald Trump's call to end mail-in ballots in elections by a reporter who noted that states govern the rules around the election methods.

The press secretary did not have a direct answer but said that other leaders are interested in looking into the topic.

"Congress comes back to Washington, I'm sure there will be many discussions with our friends on Capitol Hill and also our friends in state legislatures across the country to ensure that we're protecting the integrity of the vote, for the American people," she said.

There has been no evidence to back Trump's claims about mail voting fraud, which have been refuted by several courts, election offices, audits and other security checks in several elections.

Studies have shown that fraud in mail-ballot voting is rare, and in those few instances, the perpetrator was punished, and the votes were never counted.

ABC News' Rachel Scott asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt why President Donald Trump's proposal for a meeting between him and the Russian and Ukrainian presidents changed into a bilateral meeting.

Leavitt stressed that while the U.S. is working to get Zelenskyy and Putin together, it was up to them to get a plan.

"The president has always said that there are areas of disagreement in this war that will have to be discussed and decided upon by these two countries. And so he wants these two countries to engage in direct diplomacy," Leavitt said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated President Donald Trump's statement that no U.S. ground troops will be placed in Ukraine but that the U.S. will help coordinate security guarantees.

"The president has definitively stated U.S. boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies," Leavitt said. "The president understands security guarantees are crucially important to ensure a lasting peace, and he has directed his national security team to coordinate with our friends in Europe, and also to continue to cooperate and discuss these matters with Ukraine and Russia as well."

Pressed on Russia's statement that it opposes any NATO peacekeeping troops on the ground in Ukraine, Leavitt said conversations are ongoing on the issue.

"Well, look, the president continues to have these conversations with both leaders. Those conversations took place in Anchorage, Alaska, again yesterday with the Europeans and President Zelenskyy, and he has directed his team to come up with a framework for these security guarantees that can be acceptable to help ensure a lasting peace and end this war," Leavitt said.

NATO military leaders, including top U.S. military generals, are planning to discuss Ukraine on Wednesday during a video meeting, officials said.

The online discussion comes as President Donald Trump on Tuesday said European allies want to commit ground troops to guarantee Ukraine's security. Trump on Tuesday morning ruled out U.S. ground troops in Ukraine but said it's possible the U.S. offers air assets.

"As diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine progress, looking forward to his update on the current security environment," Italy's Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of NATO's military committee, wrote on X. Dragone said he will host the video conference.

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top U.S. commander in Europe who serves as NATO's senior military commander, is expected to brief the other military leaders, according to a senior NATO military official. It's also expected that Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would attend as head of U.S. military forces. Caine's office did not immediately confirm that he would be in attendance.

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty