European Leaders to Hold Emergency Ukraine Summit in Paris
European leaders are poised to convene an emergency summit in Paris on Monday, 17 February 2025, to deliberate on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and recent diplomatic maneuvers by the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron has extended invitations to key figures, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.
This assembly is a direct response to US President Donald Trump's recent engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, wherein Trump initiated peace negotiations concerning Ukraine without prior consultation with European allies. The situation was further exacerbated when U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg indicated that Europe would be excluded from these peace discussions.
US and Russian officials are scheduled to convene in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to initiate peace talks aimed at resolving the nearly three-year-long conflict in Ukraine. The US delegation, comprising Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, will engage with their Russian counterparts to explore potential avenues for peace. Notably, these discussions will also encompass broader bilateral issues, including economic and trade cooperation, signaling a potential shift in U.S.-Russia relations.
The exclusion of Ukraine from these preliminary talks has elicited a strong response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine would not accept any agreements forged without its direct involvement, stating, "We, as an independent country, simply will not be able to accept any agreements without us." He further expressed concerns over negotiations proceeding without Ukrainian participation, underscoring the necessity for Kyiv's inclusion in any peace process.
Prime Minister Starmer has underscored the gravity of the moment, describing it as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity for the UK, US, and Europe to collaborate closely to counteract Russian aggression. In light of these developments, Starmer is preparing to override Chancellor Rachel Reeves to augment the UK's defense budget, aiming to elevate it from the current 2.3% to 2.5% of the nation's GDP. An official announcement regarding this increase is anticipated imminently.
Following the scheduled 'informal' Paris summit, Starmer is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington. This meeting aims to convey the collective stance of European leaders and to advocate for the inclusion of Europe in any forthcoming peace negotiations concerning Ukraine.
The exclusion of European nations from the US-Russia peace talks has elicited significant concern among EU member states. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasised that without European involvement, achieving a "just and lasting peace in Ukraine" would be unattainable.
In parallel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has advocated for the formation of a unified European military force, expressing dissatisfaction with Europe's reliance on U.S. military support. He emphasised that Europe must take greater responsibility for its defense and play a more active role in ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty.
The forthcoming Paris summit is expected to address these pressing issues, aiming to solidify a cohesive European strategy in response to the evolving geopolitical landscape and to ensure that European interests are adequately represented in any future peace negotiations.
Image: Number 10/Flickr
Comments