French President Emmanuel Macron is struggling to rally European unity on Ukraine amid strong divisions within the continent. Despite hosting a summit at his Parisian palace, Macron faces resistance from key frontline nations like Germany, which rejected proposals for a European-led security force in Ukraine. The United Kingdom and Italy also have differing approaches to the crisis.
Macron’s push for European-led defense is seen as an attempt to take charge of Europe’s own security, rather than relying on US and Russian decisions. However, his efforts are being undermined by Trump’s direct negotiations with Russia on the war in Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also expressed frustration, calling it “completely premature” to discuss peacekeeping forces.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is taking a cautious approach, questioning why the summit was held in Paris rather than Brussels and criticizing the exclusion of frontline states. Her skepticism towards deploying European troops to Ukraine mirrors Trump’s own views on the issue. The divisions within Europe highlight the challenges Macron faces in his bid for strategic autonomy.
Despite Macron’s efforts, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán is notably absent from the talks, seen as a pointed message about the limits of engagement with leaders aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s world view. As the debate over military spending intensifies, some argue that Germany has been willing to cede European security leadership to France. The situation remains tense, with Europe struggling to come together on a unified response to Ukraine.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-security-summit-trump-2292c464676bd2876bda19518d9dd186