More European Efforts Are Needed for Rapid Ukraine Diplomacy, Official Says

Ahead of informal negotiations in Paris on Monday, a French presidential official stated that Europe must take more and better coordinated action in response to the swift acceleration of diplomatic efforts on Ukraine.

Ahead of informal talks with several important European leaders in Paris on Monday, a French presidential official stated that Europe must take more and better coordinated action in response to the swift acceleration of diplomatic efforts on Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump shocked NATO and Ukraine allies last week when he announced that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin without first consulting him and that he planned to start a peace process.

When Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, declared on Saturday that Europe will not be granted a seat at the negotiating table for the peace talks, tensions increased even further. This occurred even though Washington had already asked European capitals to respond to a questionnaire on their possible contributions to security guarantees for Kyiv.

NATO’s European partners were also asked in the six-point survey, which was obtained by Reuters on Sunday, what assistance they would need from Washington in order to take part in Ukraine’s security arrangements.

“There is a need for Europeans to do more, do better, and act in a more coherent manner for our collective security given the statements made by American leaders and the acceleration of developments on the Ukrainian issue,” the French official told reporters.

The 27-member EU has failed time and time again to show a unified and determined approach to responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is currently in its third year. Previous summits have revealed differences and a lack of a unified approach.

Leaders of the Baltic and Scandinavian countries, including Germany, Italy, Britain, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, were scheduled to attend the meeting on Monday alongside the secretary general of NATO and EU leadership.

“These efforts present a chance to hasten the cessation of the conflict in Ukraine, but it is still crucial to reach a consensus on the circumstances that will allow that to occur,” the official stated.

It was anticipated that discussions would center on the security assurances that the US and Europe could offer, either alone or in tandem.

The fact that the gathering was restricted to a few chosen leaders rather than being a full EU summit infuriated some EU officials. The official representing the French presidency, however, justified the meeting, saying it would help to forward future talks in NATO and in Brussels.

“It should be possible for everyone to participate in the discussion,” the official stated.