European leaders are scrambling to secure a seat at the negotiating table as the U.S. and Russia prepare to discuss peace terms for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. As part of these efforts, the United States has requested that its European allies complete a detailed questionnaire outlining their proposed security guarantees for Ukraine. This questionnaire seeks specifics on troop numbers and capabilities that European nations could potentially deploy in Ukraine to ensure its security.
In response to these developments, French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency summit in Paris on Monday. The summit aimed to address Europe's role in the swiftly progressing peace talks with Russia, especially after sentiments of exclusion emerged at the Munich Security Conference. Despite these efforts, remarks from U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, suggest that the European Union and the United Kingdom might not have a physical presence at the negotiation table.
"What we don't want to do is get into a large group discussion" – U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg
The urgency of Europe's involvement was underscored by European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who emphasized that a sustainable peace agreement is unattainable without Europe's participation. She stated:
"For anything to work it has to have Ukrainians and Europeans as a part of it, because Ukrainians and Europeans are the ones who need to also implement the deal here in Europe, so without us any deal wouldn't just work" – Kaja Kallas
Further complicating matters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed skepticism about the role of other countries in the peace discussions.
"I don't know what countries are supposed to do at talks on Ukraine." – Russia's Lavrov
This week, high-stakes talks between Washington and Moscow are scheduled to commence in Saudi Arabia. U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Marco Rubio as his top diplomat for these discussions, where he will engage directly with Russia's Sergei Lavrov. The talks aim to address the near three-year-long conflict, with an emphasis on establishing a "just and lasting peace" for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the broader implications of failing to secure such peace.
"weaken Europe but it would also weaken the United States" – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
The emergency summit in Paris, hastily organized by President Macron, sought to unify European leaders around a cohesive strategy to assert their role in peace negotiations. This came after dashed hopes at the Munich Security Conference, where European leaders felt sidelined from the diplomatic process.
President Macron's initiative reflects a broader sentiment within Europe that any peace agreement must consider their strategic interests and security dynamics. The lack of direct involvement raises concerns about the efficacy and sustainability of any potential agreement reached solely between the U.S. and Russia.
Despite these challenges, there remains cautious optimism that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will actively participate in the peace talks with Russia, as noted by former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday. The inclusion of Ukraine is seen as pivotal to any negotiations, given their central role in the conflict.
As discussions gear up in Saudi Arabia, European leaders continue to push for a more significant say in shaping the future security landscape of Ukraine. The outcome of these talks could have lasting implications for regional stability in Europe and for transatlantic relations.
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