Us Asks Europeans Contributions Ukraine Guarantees 2025 02 15
Reuters5 days ago
European Leaders Hold Emergency Summit Ahead of US-Russia Talks
Above: European leaders at an emergency summit in Paris, Feb. 17, 2025 Image copyright: 10 Downing Street via Politics UK (X)
The Facts
European leaders gathered in Paris on Monday for an emergency summit to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict amid upcoming peace negotiations between Russia and the US in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Talks included France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark, the European Commission, and NATO.
European Commission Pres. Ursula von der Leyen stated on X that the meeting "reaffirmed that Ukraine deserves peace through strength," and that Europe "need[ed] a surge in defense." Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's statement claimed that a peace agreement had to include a "US backstop."
The emergency meeting was called after US Pres. Donald Trump announced last week that Ukrainian peace negotiations between the US and Russia were to begin "immediately." Currently, European and Ukrainian representatives have not been invited to negotiations.
The Spin
Narrative A
Europe must reject any US-Russia peace deal that excludes European and Ukrainian input. Such negotiations would abandon Ukraine's sovereignty and ignore Europe’s vital role in regional security. As the conflict directly affects European borders, European nations must be involved in shaping the terms of peace.
Narrative B
Direct US-Russia peace negotiations are the pragmatic solution. The US has poured billions into Ukraine’s defense and it has the right to prioritize its own interests, focusing on China and the Pacific. Europe’s reluctance to take charge of its own security is not America's burden to bear. A swift peace is necessary for global stability.
Pro-Russia narrative
Europe and Ukraine should be excluded from peace talks, as they've proven incapable of genuine negotiation over ideological warmongering. The West’s obsession with defeating Russia has only fueled the conflict, while Europe’s fragmented military and reliance on US defense leave it unable to manage its own security.