Europe Ukraine: negotiations on peace pick up speed
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.
16.02.2025, 05:06
SDA
In addition, a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is to be prepared in the Arab country. The European heads of state and government are also planning to meet for a special summit in Paris next week.
They fear that Europe could be excluded from peace talks between the USA and Russia. 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.
At the Munich Security Conference, the US special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, had given 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. Ukraine and EU countries insist that they must be at the negotiating table in the search for a peace solution.
USA and Russia agree on regular contacts
According to the US broadcasters CNN and Fox News, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will be attending the meeting in Saudi Arabia alongside Rubio. It was not initially clear who would come to Saudi Arabia from the Russian side. The meeting is to take place in the coming days, Politico and CNN reported, citing US officials.
Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had previously spoken on the phone for the first time since the new US administration took office. "Regular contacts were agreed, including preparations for a Russian-American summit at the highest level," the Foreign Ministry in Moscow announced.
Trump had called Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in the middle of the week and discussed a possible end to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Both heads of state agreed to start negotiations, including a personal meeting. Trump had said that negotiations should begin immediately and named Saudi Arabia as a possible summit country. The Arab country then declared its willingness to act as host.
Summit of EU heads of state and government convened at short notice
The EU heads of state and government want to hold a special summit at short notice. However, a meeting for today or Monday in Paris has not yet been confirmed by the Élysée Palace. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski initially announced this on the X platform, but later withdrew the post. Other media also mentioned Monday or next week as the date for the planned summit.
The Élysée Palace merely stated: "There are ongoing talks between leading European politicians about a possible informal meeting, but nothing has been finalized yet." At the Munich Security Conference, Sikorski had spoken of an invitation to a meeting in Paris from French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the British news agency PA, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to attend the summit in Paris. He said that this was a "unique moment for our national security" and that it was clear that Europe must take on a greater role in NATO. The UK would work to ensure that the US and Europe stood together, he said, adding that divisions in the alliance should not be allowed to distract from "external enemies".
At the end of February, Starmer wants to discuss the views of the European heads of state and government during a visit by US President Trump to Washington, the British broadcaster BBC reported. A further meeting between the European heads of state and government and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is expected after his return from Washington.
Zelenskyi: Ukraine and Europe must be present at talks
Zelenskyi made it clear that Europe must be at the negotiating table in any peace talks between his country and Russia. Europe, the USA and Ukraine must coordinate a unified defense and security strategy with a clear action plan before any negotiations, he said.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for almost three years with Western help. Russia controls around a fifth of Ukraine's territory, including the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
