Europe Paris: Ukraine meeting of European countries on Monday
Paris has confirmed that European heads of state and government want to discuss US President Donald Trump's plans to possibly end the war in Ukraine in the French capital on Monday. The meeting at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron was confirmed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in an interview on France Inter. The minister did not say who would actually take part in the discussions. According to diplomats, the meeting will focus on the question of what the Europeans can contribute to a possible peace deal.
16.02.2025, 13:24
SDA
Since the phone call between Trump and Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin, there have been concerns in Europe and Ukraine that the Europeans could be left out of an agreement on a peace deal. It is feared that Trump does not want the Europeans at the negotiating table - but expects them to shoulder the burden of implementing a peace solution.
Negotiations on a peace solution pick up speed
Meanwhile, negotiations on peace in Ukraine are picking up speed: In the coming week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia, among others, reportedly want to discuss an end to the Russian war of aggression. In addition, a meeting between US President Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is to be prepared in the Arab country.
According to Politico, no European representatives are to take part in the talks in Saudi Arabia next week. Ukraine will not be sending any representatives there either, the US magazine reported, citing a Ukrainian official.
What does the USA want?
At the Munich Security Conference, the US special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, gave an evasive answer to the European allies' demand for participation in negotiations. Earlier negotiations had failed because too many parties were involved, the British broadcaster BBC quoted him as saying.
