European leaders gathered in Paris for emergency talks following recent developments, including a secret meeting between US and Russian officials set to take place in Saudi Arabia to address the conflict in Ukraine, excluding European and Ukrainian participation. The sidelining of European leaders during this critical period in the continent’s security has raised concerns.
French President Emmanuel Macron briefly spoke with US President Donald Trump ahead of the talks, but the spotlight shifted to the upcoming US-Russia discussions in Riyadh. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are expected to meet to discuss improving relations between the two countries, potentially paving the way for a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
With the US potentially reducing its presence in Europe, the Paris meeting focused on the possibility of deploying European troops to Ukraine and increasing defense spending among European allies. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the meeting as a significant moment for European national security, expressing readiness to consider deploying British forces if a lasting peace agreement is reached.
NATO Secretary Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of European leaders strategizing on how best to support a peace process, including the potential deployment of troops post-agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated the need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine during discussions with Macron.
Over the past week, unity between Europe and the US on Russia and Ukraine has eroded. The Trump administration’s recent statements and actions have further strained relations, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth questioning NATO membership for Ukraine and Trump engaging in talks with Putin that bypassed European input. Vice President JD Vance criticized European leaders for their handling of internal challenges during a speech at the Munich Security Conference, highlighting growing tensions within the transatlantic alliance.
Senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Gould-Davies expressed concern over the Trump administration’s rapid statements and their impact on Europe, describing the situation as uncharted territory. He criticized the administration for rushing into concessions to the Kremlin before negotiations even started, warning that this approach could weaken their position and provide openings for Putin to exploit.
Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Ukraine would not take part in US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia without direct involvement, emphasizing that discussions about Ukraine needed to include Ukraine itself. Despite this stance, Zelensky hinted at a willingness to consider a deal granting the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees.
After rejecting an initial approach from the Trump administration, Zelensky expressed interest in a more detailed plan and welcomed the upcoming visit of Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy, to Ukraine. He also planned to show Kellogg the frontline to provide a firsthand perspective.
The main diplomatic efforts of the Trump administration were set to take place in the Middle East, with Senator Rubio leading discussions in Riyadh alongside National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The Kremlin confirmed that Lavrov would be accompanied by presidential aide Yury Ushakov.
Rubio framed the talks as a test of Russia’s commitment to ending the conflict in Ukraine, while Lavrov hinted at broader objectives, referring to the need to move past strained US-Russia relations. Gould-Davies expressed concerns over Europe’s limited influence in the negotiations and highlighted the potential consequences that the continent would have to face.
In Paris, Rutte expressed confidence that the US would ensure Ukraine’s involvement in future negotiations and emphasized the importance of having all relevant parties at the table. He acknowledged the need for NATO and Europe to play a significant role in the peace process and praised the EU’s increasing engagement in the matter.
President Biden emphasized the need for European NATO allies to increase their defense spending, stating that he believes it should exceed “3%” of GDP to address significant gaps in capabilities. He acknowledged the importance of this investment by stating, “They were right. We have to spend more, and we will spend more.” A team of CNN journalists including Betsy Klein, Alex Marquardt, Kevin Liptak, Alayna Treene, Sugam Pokharel, Simone McCarthy, Manveena Suri, Anna Chernova, Svitlana Vlasova, and Daria Tarasova-Markina contributed to this report. For the latest CNN news and newsletters, sign up at CNN.com.
