Top European leaders have convened an emergency meeting in Paris to discuss their future role in the Ukraine conflict as the United States begins negotiations with Russia without them. French President Emmanuel Macron called the meeting, which brought together leaders from the UK, Germany, Poland, Italy, and other nations, ahead of a Saudi Arabia summit between US and Russian officials.
The gathering comes after US Vice President J.D. Vance criticized European countries for straying from “democratic values” over their opposition to far-right parties and censorship. The remarks were seen as a blow to the EU’s stance on the issue.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not a realistic outcome of a potential settlement to end the war. This has left many European leaders feeling shocked and sidelined.
Despite the tensions, senior European officials have stuck to their message that there will be no peace in Ukraine without Ukrainian or European involvement. However, the Trump administration seems to be moving forward with negotiations between US and Russian representatives without involving EU leaders.
European leaders are struggling to agree on how to proceed, with some nations willing to commit troops to Ukraine while others remain cautious. The situation has raised concerns about a potential ideological convergence between Moscow and Washington against Europeans.
Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/18/europe-emergency-meeting-paris-munich-vance-russia-saudi