European Leaders Rush to Paris for Emergency Crisis Meeting over Donald Trump's Ukraine Dealings with Putin

PARIS — European leaders convened in Paris on Monday for urgent talks as the Trump administration moved forward with plans to negotiate a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, raising fears among European allies about their role in the process and the future of transatlantic security.

The meeting, called by French President Emmanuel Macron, followed a series of high-profile visits from top U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Their appearances in Europe last week, particularly at the Munich Security Conference, left European leaders alarmed about the tone of U.S. foreign policy, particularly Washington’s decision to engage with Russia independently of both Ukraine and its European allies.

Macron spoke with President Donald Trump in a 20-minute phone call ahead of the Paris gathering, though the French leader’s office declined to disclose details of their conversation. The meeting included leaders from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“Europe’s security is at a turning point,” von der Leyen wrote on social media after arriving in Paris. “Yes, it is about Ukraine — but it is also about us. We need an urgency mind-set. We need a surge in defense. And we need both of them now.”

The urgency of the talks stemmed from the U.S. administration’s decision to begin peace negotiations with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, starting Tuesday, without inviting European or Ukrainian representatives. Trump’s recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, conducted without prior coordination with European allies, further heightened concerns that the U.S. was prepared to strike a deal with Moscow that could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and leave Europe vulnerable.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in the United Arab Emirates for separate negotiations on prisoner exchanges, insisted that Ukraine would not accept any deal reached between the U.S. and Russia without its participation. “Europe must be at the negotiating table — I don’t know in what format, but this is very important for us,” Zelensky said.

The meeting in Paris focused on what Europe is prepared to contribute to securing Ukraine’s future, particularly if a cease-fire or peace deal is reached. Some leaders, such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have indicated that they would be willing to commit troops to Ukraine as part of a security guarantee. “Securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty for the long term is essential if we are to deter Putin from further aggression in the future,” Starmer wrote in an article published Monday in The Daily Telegraph.

Macron has previously discussed the possibility of a European peacekeeping force stationed in Ukraine after a potential deal with Russia. However, military experts argue that any such force would require substantial American backing, including intelligence sharing, air defense, and advanced weaponry. Without U.S. support, many European leaders are hesitant to commit resources to a military deployment in Ukraine.

Germany and other European nations have expressed skepticism about sending troops while the war is ongoing. “The questions about the security architecture that then have to be discussed will be discussed when the time is right,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

The Trump administration has signaled that it expects Europe to take on the bulk of financial and military support for Ukraine in the long run, though details on how this would be structured remain unclear. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, acknowledged in Munich that there was no fixed American plan, stating that U.S. officials were still in “listening mode.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Kellogg earlier Monday in Brussels before departing for the Paris talks. According to a NATO readout, Rutte emphasized the importance of a “just and lasting resolution” to the conflict and noted that allies had begun responding to the U.S. call for increased European involvement.

The meeting in Paris also reflected deeper anxieties about the future of NATO and European security. European nations have long been criticized by the U.S. for failing to meet defense spending commitments, with only 23 of NATO’s 32 members currently meeting the alliance’s 2% GDP target. As Washington signals a potential military drawdown from Europe, some European leaders are calling for a significant increase in defense funding, with discussions ongoing about raising the NATO spending threshold to 3% or higher.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged greater European investment in military capabilities, stating that countries seeking influence in Ukraine’s future must demonstrate their own commitment to defense. “If we want to decide about the future of Ukraine together with Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, we must also show that we are capable of much more serious investment in our own defense,” Tusk said.

However, divisions remain within Europe. Some leaders, particularly from frontline states such as the Baltic nations, expressed frustration that they were not invited to the Paris talks. A senior Baltic official criticized the meeting as a move that “splits the unity of the European Union” rather than fostering collective action. Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar echoed this sentiment, stating, “This is not the Europe that commands respect abroad. This is not the Europe that would be a serious partner to the North American ally.”

Despite these tensions, the meeting underscored Europe’s growing realization that it must be prepared to take on a more independent security role. “Europeans cannot reasonably be expected to provide the security guarantees for a deal they are not negotiating,” said Camille Grand, a former NATO official.

With the U.S. moving ahead with its diplomatic efforts in Saudi Arabia, European leaders are expected to continue discussions in the coming weeks on how to position themselves in the shifting geopolitical landscape. Macron’s office indicated that further meetings would involve a broader range of European nations to ensure a more unified approach.

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