A group of 11 European leaders has gathered in Paris to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and strengthen their unified stance, as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies his push for peace talks.
Last week, Trump made waves by urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to “immediately” begin negotiations, later suggesting he could meet with Putin “very soon.”
This phone call broke a three-year diplomatic effort to isolate the Kremlin and raised concerns that Ukraine might be pressured into signing an unfavorable deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded, asserting that Ukraine would “never accept deals made behind our backs” and “without our involvement.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. has clarified that Europeans will not have a seat at the negotiation table, but will be consulted throughout the emerging peace process.
This exclusion has caused unease across Europe, prompting a last-minute initiative to unite and present a solid front.
French President Emmanuel Macron is leading the charge by inviting key European leaders to Paris for talks on Monday. Among those attending are German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish leader Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Also joining the informal summit will be European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
In response to Trump’s call with Putin, Costa stated, “There will be no credible and successful negotiations, no lasting peace, without Ukraine and without the EU.”
The meeting, scheduled to begin at 16:00 CET, may not yield immediate results, but it underscores Europe’s growing pressure to increase defense spending and take a larger role in supporting Kyiv—expectations the Trump administration is eager to scale back.
The White House has issued a questionnaire to European capitals, probing their willingness to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and participate in potential peacekeeping missions. The questionnaire also asks what additional American support would be necessary for Europeans to offer these guarantees.
On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed readiness to deploy British troops to Ukraine to enforce any potential peace agreement. However, the U.S. has warned that any such mission would lack NATO’s Article 5 collective defense provision, leaving soldiers vulnerable to Russian attacks.
Starmer emphasized the importance of securing a lasting peace in Ukraine, stating, “Securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty for the long term is essential if we are to deter Putin from further aggression in the future.”
According to the Élysée, the meeting on Monday is intended to initiate a series of talks among European leaders, including those not invited to Paris.
The discussions may continue in various formats, aiming to bring together all partners committed to peace and security in Europe.
The prospect of being excluded from peace talks has infuriated Europeans, who view their long-term security as closely tied to Ukraine’s future.
Over the past three years, Brussels and Washington have worked together to undermine Russia’s war efforts and support Ukraine’s struggling economy.
