PARIS:French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with leaders from key European nations on Monday to discuss Europe’s security, amidst growing concerns over US efforts to end the war in Ukraine. This comes after US President Donald Trump surprised Ukraine and its European allies by initiating talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing conflict.
The new US administration has also cautioned NATO allies that Europe may no longer be its primary security concern as it shifts focus towards China.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that Macron would bring together major European countries to discuss these security issues, although he did not specify which countries would participate. The meeting, scheduled for Monday afternoon in Paris, will reportedly include leaders from Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, and Denmark, along with NATO chief Marc Rutte and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to a European diplomatic source.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also expected to attend, according to British media reports.
The Kremlin has pushed for negotiations, expected to begin soon in Saudi Arabia, to address not only the ongoing Ukraine war but also broader European security issues. This has sparked fears among European nations that Russian President Vladimir Putin could revive demands that were made before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, particularly aimed at limiting NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe and US involvement in the region.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky advocated for the creation of a European army, emphasizing that Europe could no longer rely on the United States. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that any decisions about Ukraine and Europe should not be made without direct involvement of the concerned parties.
Barrot reaffirmed France’s stance, stating that only Ukraine can decide when to stop fighting, and that Europe will continue to support Ukraine until that decision is made. He emphasized that Ukrainians would only consider peace if they were certain it would be long-lasting, and that Europe must provide the necessary guarantees.
Trumpβs special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated that while Europe may not be directly involved in the peace talks, it would still have an “input.” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also hinted at the possibility that Ukraine may not join NATO or fully regain the territory it lost since 2014.
