PARIS – European leaders are gathering in Paris today for an emergency meeting to discuss Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, amid growing concerns that the U.S. and Russia may negotiate an end to the conflict without including Ukraine and its European allies.
The meeting aims to present a united European front and explore new proposals to support Ukraine and strengthen European security.
“There is a group of EU countries that are clear they will not be part of a poorly designed and rushed agreement pushed by [U.S. President Donald] Trump, and they remain focused on continuing their support for Ukraine,” said Majda Ruge, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin.
Concerns in Europe escalated after Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia, stated on February 15 that European nations would not be directly involved in peace talks. Reports also revealed that U.S. and Russian officials plan to meet this week in Saudi Arabia to begin discussions on ending the war—without Ukraine at the table.
Trump later claimed on February 16 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “will be included” in the negotiations. However, just days earlier, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Washington is no longer primarily focused on European security.
These developments have alarmed European officials, who warn that a hastily agreed peace deal or ceasefire could undermine Ukraine and broader European security.
The EU remains Ukraine’s largest financial supporter, with widespread backing across the continent—except for Hungary and Slovakia, which have shown resistance to further aid.
