Europeans Reaffirm their Commitment to Ukraine as Talks between the US and Russia Commence
Leaders of many European countries gathered for a summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday. The meeting was organized hastily to discuss their commitment to Ukraine ahead of U.S.–Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened the summit, which included participants from major players such as France, Germany, and the UK. They deliberated on how to respond to the negotiations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Macron spoke with Trump and then Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the summit. He emphasized the need for Russia to end its aggression and provide strong security guarantees for Ukraine, in collaboration with European, American, and Ukrainian partners.
Zelenskyy also discussed the call on X, expressing the importance of robust security guarantees to prevent further deception by Russia and avoid potential conflicts.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, in Brussels on Tuesday. Von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, with a commitment to working with the U.S. to end the conflict.
Despite the Paris summit not yielding concrete agreements, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed willingness to deploy British troops to Ukraine if needed, highlighting the importance of U.S. backing for deterrence against Russian aggression.
Various leaders, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, discussed options for supporting Ukraine without deploying their own forces. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized Europe’s readiness to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and invest more in security.
In Saudi Arabia, high-level talks between U.S. and Russian officials took place, signaling a potential path towards peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin expressed Putin’s readiness for peace talks and the desire to achieve aims through diplomatic means, while preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump continue.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
