Paris – While US and Russian envoys are preparing to start talks in Saudi Arabia to end the war in Ukraine, European leaders called an emergency meeting in Paris after being cut off by peace talks.
The Bay between the US and Europe on war and security of Ukraine crystallized for Europeans last weekend at the Munich Security Conference, says Eli Tenbaum, a security expert at the French Institute of International Relations.
“Their nightmare came true,” he says. “They see that the Trump administration will bypass them and try to strongly grow up Ukraine when negotiating a deal with Russia to end the war.”
Tennbaum says European leaders hope the US and Europe can work together under the new Trump administration. But comments last week in Europe by several US Defense Minister Pete Heget in Brussels, Vice President JD Vance and the Special General-Ukraine of Russia-Ukraine Keith Kellogen in Munich and President Trump himself after an hour and a half call with Russian President Vladimir Putin Cold water has poured on any such hopes.
“Europeans now realize they are standing alone,” he says.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski pleaded in Munich for Europe to join Ukraine in the construction of a European combat force, “so in Europe the future of Europe depends only on Europeans, and the decisions for Europe are made in Europe,” he said that it is said applauds.
“Zelenski says this is our moment – where we either stand up and fight, or give up and let the Russians and Americans paint the lines,” says Tennebaum.
The meeting on Monday, hosting French President Emmanuel Macron, will join the leaders of the UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark.
In an option in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, the United Kingdom Prime Minister Kier Starmer writes that he is ready to send troops to Ukraine to guarantee a deal of peace.
At least three major European powers will have to be activated to create the true power of a guarantor, Tennbaum says.
“What you need is the UK and Poland on board with France. And ideally, a fourth country that can be Germany or Italy,” he says.
Tennbaum says Europeans will have to fight for a negotiation table, “to be sufficient from problems that the US and Russia are aware of that the process can derail if they are kept outside the room.”
Tenenbaum will strive to see if Europeans are ready to take some risks and be bold enough to win a place on the table.
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