•European Leaders to Discuss Response to U.S.-Russia Negotiations in Saudi Arabia
French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency summit of European Union (EU) leaders following the announcement that Moscow and Washington will engage in Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia—excluding European nations from the negotiations.
The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on Wednesday, marking their first direct discussion since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022.
On Saturday, the countries’ top diplomats followed up with a call to discuss the potential organization of a high-level Russian-American summit.
Later that day, U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg confirmed that EU nations would not be included in the negotiations, a decision that has sparked concern among European leaders.
Poland Welcomes Macron’s Initiative
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski praised Macron’s decision to hold the emergency meeting, confirming that the summit will take place in Paris on Monday.
“I’m very glad that President Macron has called our leaders to Paris,” Sikorski said, as reported by Politico. He emphasized that European leaders need to respond “in a very serious fashion” to the diplomatic challenges posed by Trump’s approach to international negotiations.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accepted the invitation and will attend the summit to “demonstrate our strength and unity,” according to Sikorski.
While the full list of invitees has not been officially disclosed, The Guardian has reported that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also be among the attendees.
EU’s Role in Ukraine Negotiations
Macron has consistently advocated for European involvement in peace negotiations, arguing that while Ukraine must lead discussions on its sovereignty, the EU plays a critical role in shaping security guarantees and the broader security framework for the region.
In a previous interview with the Financial Times, Macron asserted that Brussels must be part of any resolution to ensure lasting stability in Europe.
Despite this, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy revealed that Kyiv was also excluded from the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy expressed frustration over his government’s absence from the negotiations.
“Maybe there is something at the table, but not on our table,” he remarked.
Growing European Concerns Over Trump’s Diplomacy
The exclusion of the EU from peace talks has reignited concerns over Trump’s diplomatic style, particularly his transactional approach to foreign policy and his often skeptical stance on multilateral alliances such as NATO and the EU.
European leaders fear that Trump’s willingness to engage directly with Russia could sideline their interests and weaken Europe’s influence over Ukraine’s future.
Macron’s emergency summit is expected to focus on formulating a unified European response to these developments.
However, neither a French government spokesperson nor Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot provided an immediate comment when approached by Politico.
As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, the upcoming Paris meeting will be a crucial moment for European leaders to reassess their position and influence in the evolving negotiations over Ukraine’s future.
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