French President Emmanuel Macron will host an emergency summit on Monday to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, with European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, gathering to discuss a changing U.S. approach to the conflict and the risks it poses to European security.
Monday’s discussions are expected to explore how Europe can contribute to long-term peace efforts in Ukraine, ensuring that European security remains a central focus of negotiations. The meeting will also seek to clarify Europe’s role in shaping the postwar landscape and strengthening ties between the U.S. and European allies in the aftermath of the war.
The summit follows recent comments from U.S. officials that suggested Europe may be sidelined in the ongoing peace talks with Russia. Macron’s presidency announced that the consultation talks would focus on the recent shifts in the U.S. stance toward Ukraine, and the broader implications for the security of the European continent.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio departs Israel for Saudi Arabia, at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel February 17, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool
Key European Leaders Attending
The summit will feature key figures such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and senior European Union officials, including Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa. The gathering comes after a series of diplomatic tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement last week that he had held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss initiating a peace process, bypassing consultations with European leaders.
Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg further heightened tensions on Saturday when he claimed that Europe would have no role in any peace talks with Russia, even as the U.S. sought input from European capitals on potential contributions to security guarantees for Kyiv.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg attends the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, February 15, 2025. Boris Roessler/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
U.S. and Europe at Odds
The shift in the U.S. approach has deeply unsettled European allies, who feel sidelined in crucial discussions over Ukraine’s future. A document seen by Reuters on Sunday revealed that the U.S. has even asked European NATO members about the security arrangements they would need from Washington to participate in peace talks.
These developments have left many European officials frustrated with the U.S. approach and concerned about the lack of cohesion within Europe itself. The European Union, despite being directly impacted by the conflict, has been criticized for its slow response and lack of a unified strategy after nearly three years of war on its doorstep.
Some EU members have expressed dissatisfaction that Monday’s summit will be limited to a select group of leaders, rather than a full EU-wide summit, as previously hoped. In response, the French presidency has attempted to reassure EU officials by stating that the meeting may lead to further discussions with the broader European partners, all with the goal of reinforcing peace and security across the continent.
