Emergency Summit Planned by European Leaders to Address Ukraine Crisis

Concerns mount as former President Trump’s administration prepares to negotiate peace talks between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine without significant European participation.

European leaders, led by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, are set to hold an emergency summit in Paris to address the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting comes amid rising concerns regarding the role of the U.S. and former President Donald Trump's recent interventions in the peace process.

Sir Keir Starmer labeled this moment as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity for national security, emphasizing the necessity for Europe to take a more significant role within NATO. His remarks follow comments made by Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, who indicated that European leaders would be consulted but not directly involved in U.S.-Russia negotiations.

In the coming days, U.S. officials are scheduled to meet with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia, raising alarm in Ukraine and among European allies about the exclusion of European perspectives. Kellogg criticized previous peace talks for including too many parties, which he believes hindered effectiveness.

Starmer aims to unify U.S. and European efforts towards a cohesive strategy for peace in Ukraine. He is also slated to meet with President Trump later this month to report on European leaders’ opinions, with a subsequent meeting involving President Volodymyr Zelensky planned afterward.

Zelensky has publicly called for the establishment of an "army of Europe," highlighting his concerns regarding U.S. support becoming less certain. He expressed a strong stance against any negotiations made without Ukraine’s direct involvement, particularly after Trump's announcement of a planned peace dialogue with Putin.

The situation has escalated within broader contexts, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently spoke with Russia's foreign minister, following Trump's discussions with Putin, highlighting ongoing high-stakes diplomacy. House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul commented that the Saudi talks would aim to arrange discussions among Trump, Putin, and Zelensky for a potential resolution to the conflict.

David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary, echoed these sentiments at the Munich Security Conference, urging increased defense spending among UK and EU nations to address long-term threats from Putin, regardless of future peace negotiations.