French President Emmanuel Macron will host key European leaders on Monday to discuss the continent’s security, as concerns rise over the United States’ shifting focus in the Ukraine war. The meeting comes after US President Donald Trump initiated talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, which blindsided Ukraine and its European allies.
Trump’s move to begin discussions with Russia regarding the ongoing invasion of Ukraine has raised alarm in Europe, as it signals a potential change in the US’s foreign policy priorities. The new US administration has also warned NATO allies that Europe may no longer be its primary security concern, with an increasing focus on China.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the meeting in Paris, which will bring together leaders from major European nations to address security matters. While the exact list of participants was not disclosed, a European diplomatic source revealed that the meeting would include representatives from Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, as well as NATO Secretary-General Marc Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. British media reports suggest UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to attend.
The Kremlin has pushed for negotiations regarding the war, which will begin in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, and these talks are likely to address not only the conflict in Ukraine but also broader security concerns in Europe. The discussions have sparked fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin could once again push for demands to limit NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe, echoing earlier requests made before the invasion in 2022.
At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the creation of a European army, arguing that Europe could no longer rely on the United States for security. He emphasized that any decisions about Ukraine should be made by Ukrainians themselves, and any decisions regarding Europe should involve European nations.
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Barrot reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, stating that only the Ukrainians could decide when to stop fighting and that Europe would continue its support until that decision was made. He also pointed out that Ukrainians would not accept peace unless they were certain it would be lasting, and in this regard, Europe must offer guarantees.
Despite the mounting tension, US officials, including Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, have suggested that Europe will not be directly involved in negotiations but will still have an influence. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also suggested that Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the full retaking of lost territory may not be on the table in the near future.
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