European leaders will meet next week for an emergency summit on Ukraine. They worry that the US will negotiate peace with Russia without including them.
Starmer Calls for Stronger European Role in NATO
Sir Keir Starmer, who will attend the summit in Paris, emphasized its importance. He called it a “once-in-a-generation moment for our national security.” According to him, Europe must play a bigger role in NATO.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine clarified that European leaders would be consulted. However, they will not participate in direct U.S.-Russia peace talks.
At the same time, senior White House officials plan to meet Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia soon, U.S. officials confirmed.
U.S. Envoy Pushes for Limited Negotiators in Talks
Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, argued that too many parties caused past peace talks to fail. He stated, “It may be like chalk on the blackboard, it may grate a little bit, but I am telling you something that is really quite honest.” His remarks raised concerns in Ukraine and among European allies.
Notably, Europe still remembers the failed Minsk agreements from 2015. France and Germany brokered that ceasefire, but it did not hold.
UK Seeks to Keep U.S. and Europe United
In response, Starmer aims to bridge the gap between the U.S. and Europe. When he visits President Trump at the White House later this month, he will share European leaders’ concerns.
Afterward, another high-level meeting will take place. European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will assess the situation and discuss next steps.
Emphasizing the need for unity, Starmer warned, “We cannot allow any divisions in the alliance to distract from external enemies.” He also added, “Europe must take on a greater role in NATO as we work with the United States to secure Ukraine’s future.”
France Calls for Urgent Meeting
Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski revealed that French President Emmanuel Macron initiated the emergency summit. However, Macron has yet to make an official announcement.
Sikorski compared Trump’s approach to a battlefield tactic. He explained, “You push and see what happens, then you change your position.” He urged European leaders to prepare a strong response.
Zelensky Urges Europe to Strengthen Its Military
Earlier, Zelensky called for the creation of an “army of Europe.” He fears the U.S. may no longer defend the continent in the future.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he reacted to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech. He observed that the traditional U.S.-Europe alliance was “ending” and urged Europe to “adjust to that.”
At the same time, he rejected secret negotiations. “Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement,” he declared.
Trump Pushes for Peace Talks with Russia
Recently, Trump revealed that he spoke at length with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He announced that peace negotiations would begin “immediately” to end the “ridiculous war.”
Following the call, Trump informed Zelensky of his decision. He expressed confidence that his leadership could secure a peace deal.
His unexpected outreach to Putin ended nearly three years of silence between Washington and Moscow. The announcement also reminded many of his controversial 2018 meeting with Putin in Helsinki. Back then, Trump defended Russia despite U.S. intelligence reports confirming Russian interference in the 2016 election.
U.S. Officials Prepare for Saudi Peace Talks
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Russia’s foreign minister. This built on the February 12 conversation between Trump and Putin.
As a next step, Trump administration officials will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. U.S. Representative Michael McCaul confirmed the upcoming talks. He revealed that Zelensky had been invited. The goal is to arrange a meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky to “finally bring peace and end this conflict.”
U.S. Pressures Europe on Defense Spending
At the same time, Vice President Vance criticized European nations for not doing enough. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he argued that Europe’s biggest threats come “from within” rather than from Russia or China.
Echoing Trump’s stance, he insisted that Europe must “step up in a big way” to strengthen its own defense.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy agreed. He warned that even if Ukraine reaches a peace deal, Europe still faces an “existential question.” He stressed, “Putin will not go away.”
Furthermore, Lammy acknowledged progress in NATO spending. He noted that 23 NATO members now meet the 2% GDP defense target. However, he insisted, “We all know we have to go upward.”
