Key European leaders have arrived at the Élysée Palace for an emergency summit convened by French President Emmanuel Macron. The meeting aims to coordinate a unified response to the recent policy shift on the war in Ukraine by the new US administration of Donald Trump.
Among the leaders personally greeted by Mr. Macron were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. According to the French presidency, Mr. Macron spoke with President Trump by telephone just before the summit.
The meeting also includes leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as European Council President Antonia Costa and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The recent phone call between Mr. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has left the transatlantic alliance uncertain, with European capitals scrambling to determine the extent to which the EU and Ukraine will be involved in any forthcoming negotiations that could significantly impact European security.
The European Union has held multiple summits on Ukraine but has struggled to take decisive action to end the war, as Russia continues to resist economic and diplomatic sanctions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Ukraine must be involved in any "real negotiations" since it is the country under invasion, while European nations should also participate due to their sanctions regime against Russia.
However, President Trump’s envoy to the region, Keith Kellogg, stated that while the EU would not be directly involved in negotiations, it would be "consulted."
Adding to the uncertainty, no Ukrainian delegation has been invited to Saudi Arabia for talks between officials, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.
Among the leaders personally greeted by Mr. Macron were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. According to the French presidency, Mr. Macron spoke with President Trump by telephone just before the summit.
The meeting also includes leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as European Council President Antonia Costa and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The recent phone call between Mr. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has left the transatlantic alliance uncertain, with European capitals scrambling to determine the extent to which the EU and Ukraine will be involved in any forthcoming negotiations that could significantly impact European security.
The European Union has held multiple summits on Ukraine but has struggled to take decisive action to end the war, as Russia continues to resist economic and diplomatic sanctions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Ukraine must be involved in any "real negotiations" since it is the country under invasion, while European nations should also participate due to their sanctions regime against Russia.
However, President Trump’s envoy to the region, Keith Kellogg, stated that while the EU would not be directly involved in negotiations, it would be "consulted."
Adding to the uncertainty, no Ukrainian delegation has been invited to Saudi Arabia for talks between officials, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.
