17 February 2025 - European leaders convene in Paris to define common positions on the situation in Ukraine and European security. The focus included transatlantic relations with the U.S. under Donald Trump and approaches to peace negotiations planned by the U.S. and Russia.
The meeting, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, included leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. Also in attendance were Antonio Costa, representing the EU, Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The meeting was prompted by U.S. President Donald Trump's call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he announced plans for Ukraine peace talks without consulting European leaders or Kyiv. The proposed location for these talks is Saudi Arabia.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, agreeing to remove "unilateral obstacles" in bilateral relations. Rubio stated that upcoming days will reveal if Putin is serious about peace in Ukraine. He will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with Russian representatives alongside U.S. envoys.
Ukrainian Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko is also in Saudi Arabia, preparing for a potential visit from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Macron spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about Saudi Arabia's role in a potential peace agreement for Ukraine, emphasizing Europe's key role in the process.
The U.S. has provided European allies with a questionnaire regarding security agreements related to Ukraine, inquiring about necessary support from the U.S. and resources needed. The document also asks which countries could contribute to guaranteeing a peace agreement and potentially send troops to Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy reiterated that there should be no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine or about Europe without Europe, calling for the creation of a European army.
British Prime Minister Starmer expressed readiness to send UK troops to Ukraine to guarantee peace under a peace agreement.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski rejected Zelenskyy's call for a European army, emphasizing Poland's role within NATO to protect the alliance's eastern flank. He supported developing EU defense capabilities and subsidies for the military industry.