President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy announced that Europe will be excluded from Ukraine peace talks, with the U.S. acting as an intermediary between Kyiv and Moscow. Trump's recent call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, made without consulting European allies or Ukraine, has heightened concerns about a deal favorable to Russia.
European leaders, including Finland's President Alexander Stubb, rejected the exclusion, emphasizing Europe's stake in the region's security. The U.S. sent a questionnaire to European capitals, asking how many troops they could deploy, further pressing Europe to take more responsibility. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged Europe to present concrete defense proposals and increase military spending.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for the creation of a European army, arguing Europe can no longer rely on U.S. protection. He stressed that Ukraine would never accept a deal made behind its back and warned that Russia might exploit Trump for propaganda. However, skepticism remains, with some EU officials pointing to NATO as the existing collective defense mechanism.
Kellogg, Trump's envoy, indicated that talks may involve territorial concessions from Russia and tighter sanctions targeting Russian oil revenues. France is exploring an informal European leaders' meeting on Ukraine, while Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed discussions on Monday. Despite tensions, G7 foreign ministers, including the U.S., pledged continued collaboration for a lasting Ukraine peace deal with strong security guarantees. Europe now faces the challenge of uniting and strengthening its defense capabilities amid shifting U.S. priorities and ongoing conflict.