Macron Hosts European Leaders in Paris Amid Trump's Push for Ukraine Peace Talks
European leaders have gathered in Paris to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, as former US President Donald Trump advocates for an expedited peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Last week, Trump caused a stir by urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to "immediately" begin negotiations, later suggesting he could meet with Putin "very soon." This dramatic shift in diplomatic efforts has raised concerns that Kyiv might be pressured into a settlement without its full involvement.
Trump's phone call with Putin broke a three-year-long Western effort to diplomatically isolate Russia, alarming European leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly responded, stating that Ukraine would never accept any agreements made without its participation.
The US has made it clear that European leaders will not be included in direct negotiations but will be consulted as part of the early peace process. This exclusion has caused anxiety across Europe, prompting an urgent response to present a unified position on the matter.
In an effort to ensure Europe's voice is heard, French President Emmanuel Macron has convened a summit in Paris with eleven European leaders, including Germany’s Olaf Scholz, the UK’s Keir Starmer, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Poland’s Donald Tusk, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, the Netherlands’ Dick Schoof, and Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen. Additionally, key figures such as Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the European Council, will also attend.
Upon her arrival in Paris, von der Leyen underscored the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that Europe's security is at a critical juncture. "Yes, it is about Ukraine—but it is also about us. We need an urgency mindset. We need a surge in defense. And we need both of them now," she stated.
The outcome of the summit remains uncertain, and European leaders are under mounting pressure to ramp up defense spending and increase their support for Ukraine, especially as the US seeks to reduce its involvement. As part of this effort, the White House has sent a questionnaire to European capitals, inquiring about their willingness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine and contribute to a peacekeeping mission. This questionnaire also asks Europeans what kind of US support they would need in such an initiative.
In a bold statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his willingness to send British troops to Ukraine to help enforce any peace agreement. However, the US has warned that such a mission would lack NATO's Article 5 protections, which could leave soldiers vulnerable to Russian retaliation. Starmer emphasized the importance of securing long-term peace in Ukraine to prevent further Russian aggression.
On the other hand, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was firm in rejecting the idea of deploying Polish soldiers to Ukraine, stating that it was not a current plan.
The summit in Paris is intended to be the first in a series of discussions involving European leaders, with future talks planned to include those not present in Paris. The Élysée Palace described the gathering as a stepping stone to broader consultations, aiming to bring together all partners interested in peace and security in Europe.
Ahead of the summit, Macron spoke with Trump, who has been pushing for a rapid resolution to the crisis. According to the US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration is operating on what he calls "Trump time," aiming for a deal in the near future. Kellogg outlined a "dual-track" peace process, with the US negotiating both with Russia and Ukraine, as well as with the democratic allies supporting Ukraine. However, he confirmed that when it comes time for direct talks, Europe will not be involved in the discussions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio further clarified that while Europeans will eventually need to be part of the process due to their sanctions on Russia and support for Ukraine, they will not initially sit at the negotiation table.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet with US officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss restoring US-Russian relations and potential steps toward settling the Ukraine conflict.
In response, President Zelenskyy has traveled to the UAE for talks on humanitarian aid and will visit Saudi Arabia soon. At a recent speech in Munich, Zelenskyy warned that Putin might use Trump as a prop for his own agenda, highlighting the concerns over the US's role in the peace process.
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