February 17, 2025
Eleven European leaders are holding an emergency meeting today in Paris, the capital of France, after the U.S. sidelined them from peace talks with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine. This urgent summit, initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to establish a united European stance on Russia’s invasion and the ongoing peace negotiations.
According to media sources, European leaders were stunned by a 90-minute phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Trump discussed Ukraine’s war without European involvement. In response, they have urgently convened this meeting.
Following the call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed his reaction, stating, “Ukraine will never accept an agreement made behind our backs without our consent.”
Moreover, after the conversation, European nations were informed that they would not have a direct role in the peace talks but would only be consulted, prompting European leaders to unify their position.
Today’s emergency summit in Paris will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Additionally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have also been invited to participate.
Sources indicate that besides the Ukraine war, the meeting will also address Europe’s defense and security concerns. The French Élysée Palace stated that today’s meeting marks the beginning of discussions, with further meetings planned in the coming weeks to establish a unified European position on peace and security.
It is worth noting that since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Brussels has closely coordinated with Washington on sanctions against Russia, economic support for Ukraine, and joint military assistance. However, a single phone call from President Trump to Vladimir Putin has changed the dynamics, raising European concerns that being excluded from the Ukraine peace talks could threaten their long-term security.
