European Leaders meet in Paris as Trump accelerates Ukraine-Russia peace push

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Monday, February 17th, 2025

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RKI Network
PARIS – European leaders convened in Paris on Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, raising concerns among Western allies about the process and its implications.
The summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, includes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Also attending are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump’s push for immediate negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, including a direct phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, has unsettled European leaders. His remark about a potential meeting with Putin “very soon” has further raised concerns that Ukraine might be pressured into an unfavorable deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly opposed any agreement made without Kyiv’s involvement, stating that Ukraine “will never accept deals made behind our backs.”
The White House has reportedly informed European leaders that while they will be consulted, they will not have a direct role in the peace negotiations. This exclusion has prompted urgent discussions in Paris, where European leaders seek to present a united stance.
Von der Leyen emphasized the stakes, declaring, “Europe’s security is at a turning point. It is about Ukraine, but it is also about us. We need urgency and a surge in defense.”
While the Paris meeting is not expected to produce an immediate resolution, European nations face mounting pressure to increase defense spending and assume greater responsibility for supporting Kyiv. Meanwhile, Washington has circulated a questionnaire to European capitals, inquiring about their readiness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine and participate in a peacekeeping mission. The document also asks what level of U.S. support European nations deem necessary for Ukraine’s security.
With Europe’s role in the negotiations uncertain, Monday’s summit underscores the continent’s effort to strengthen its position as Trump moves swiftly toward a diplomatic breakthrough with Russia.