- European leaders meet in Paris as the US begins separate peace talks with Russia in Riyadh.
- First US-Russia high-level diplomatic contact in two years raises European concerns.
- The French president calls a summit to address European security guarantees and potential stabilization force for Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an urgent summit of European defense powers in Paris, highlighting growing tensions between European allies and the US over Ukraine peace negotiations.
The meeting comes as US officials prepare for preliminary ceasefire talks with Russian counterparts in Riyadh, negotiations from which both Ukraine and European nations have been excluded.
The Paris summit, bringing together leaders including UK's Keir Starmer, Germany's Olaf Scholz, and Poland's Donald Tusk, aims to formulate a unified European response to the US administration's recent diplomatic moves.
The meeting will also address the US request for clarity on European commitments to a potential stabilization force following any ceasefire agreement.
Adding to the complexity, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov this week, marking the first high-level contact between the two nations in over two years.
European officials express concern that these US-Russia discussions could lead to imposed Ukrainian neutrality and a problematic spheres-of-influence agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed skepticism about Russian intentions, warning that Putin may be planning future aggression against NATO countries.
Meanwhile, Trump has suggested Ukrainians "might be Russian someday," raising further concerns among European allies about US commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty.
Edited By Annette George
