The destiny of Ukrainian security is being decided without the involvement of Europe, with the U.S. at the helm of peace negotiations. Recent actions by the Trump administration have caused concern among European leaders, who fear they will be excluded from negotiations that will shape their security. While Washington assures that European interests will be considered, it has clarified that direct European involvement is not on the cards.
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U.S. excludes Europe from Ukraine peace talks
- The Trump administration has signaled that European nations will not have a direct role in upcoming peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
- Washington recently sent a questionnaire to European capitals, asking what security guarantees they could offer Kyiv.
- Former President Donald Trump caused a stir by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin without consulting European allies or Ukraine and declaring the immediate start of peace negotiations.
- The U.S. administration has emphasized that NATO’s European members should take primary responsibility for regional security as the U.S. shifts its focus to other priorities, such as border security and countering China.
- These developments have raised concerns among European leaders that they may be sidelined in a peace deal that affects their security, especially if the terms favor Russia.
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European leaders push back against exclusion
- Keith Kellogg, the U.S. envoy to Ukraine, stated at the Munich Security Conference that the U.S. would act as an intermediary, with Ukraine and Russia as the main participants in the talks.
- When asked about European involvement, Kellogg said: “I’m (from) a school of realism. I think that’s not gonna happen.”
- Later, he reassured European leaders that their interests would still be considered.
- European officials, however, rejected being left out. Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated: “There’s no way in which we can have discussions or negotiations about Ukraine, Ukraine’s future, or European security structure, without Europeans.”
- Stubb emphasized that Europe must take more action instead of relying on external powers.
- The U.S. questionnaire reportedly contains six key questions, including one directed at European Union member states regarding their willingness to deploy troops.
- France is discussing a possible informal meeting among European leaders to address the situation, though no final decision has been made.
- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed that such a meeting would take place on Monday.
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also urged European countries to take proactive steps rather than just expressing concerns.
- He called on them to “come up with concrete proposals, ideas, and ramp up defense spending.“
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Strategic considerations and the call for a European army
- Kellogg suggested that peace talks could focus on territorial concessions from Russia and cutting Putin’s oil revenue streams.
- He pointed out that Russia’s economy is heavily reliant on oil and stressed that Western nations need to enforce sanctions more effectively.
- Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed the creation of a European army, arguing that Europe could no longer rely on the U.S. for protection.
- He warned that Kyiv would never accept a deal made behind its back and accused Putin of using Trump for propaganda purposes.
- Zelenskiy also stated that U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at the conference signaled a shift in U.S.-Europe relations.
- “Let’s be honest – now we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it,” Zelenskiy said.
- He asserted that a European army, including Ukraine, would ensure that Europe’s security decisions remain in European hands.
- However, the idea of a European army has met skepticism. An official from an Eastern European EU member state dismissed the proposal, saying: “There is a European military force called NATO.”
- Despite tensions, G7 foreign ministers, including the U.S., issued a joint statement pledging to work together on securing a durable peace deal for Ukraine with strong security guarantees.
