Europeans warn US on excluding them from Ukraine talks

European leaders voiced strong concerns on Thursday after US President Donald Trump initiated talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sparking fears that a peace deal over Ukraine could be made without Europe’s involvement.

Trump’s announcement, following his phone call with Putin, suggested that Ukraine may have to concede territorial losses and forgo NATO membership. This has raised alarms among Kyiv and its European allies, who insisted that any peace settlement should not be negotiated without their input, as reported on Reuters. 

The Ukrainian government and its European supporters demanded to be part of any discussions, fearing that a peace deal reached without their participation could undermine their interests and security. "Any agreement without us will fail, because you need Europe and Ukraine to also implement the agreement," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, underscoring Europe’s central role in any resolution.

Trump’s call with Putin, the first publicly acknowledged dialogue since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022, followed by a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, was seen as a significant step towards peace talks.

While Trump emphasized the desire for peace from both sides, his administration's remarks raised concerns: the US openly acknowledged that Ukraine's return to pre-2014 borders and NATO membership might not be achievable, signaling potential concessions to Moscow.

Furthermore, the US stated that no American troops would participate in any security force aimed at enforcing a ceasefire.

The situation has already taken a toll on financial markets, with Russian markets surging and Ukrainian debt prices rising in anticipation of a peace agreement.

However, Ukrainian officials, along with their European allies, have voiced deep unease about Trump’s approach, particularly his willingness to engage with Russia without securing a unified position first. The possibility that a peace deal may leave some Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine’s hands has been acknowledged by Kyiv, but they remain wary of the broader implications.