CNN
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to attend an urgent summit in Paris on Monday, as reported by Britain’s PA news agency. European leaders are racing to respond to the Trump administration’s initiative to collaborate with Russia for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine—potentially sidelining them in the negotiation process.

“The UK is committed to ensuring that we maintain unity between the US and Europe,” Starmer stated in a press release from Downing Street on Saturday. “We must not let any divisions within the alliance distract us from the external threats we are confronting.”

The UK’s announcement of the emergency summit comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump and his senior officials disrupting what had previously been a cohesive stance between Washington and its European NATO allies in their support for Ukraine against Russia’s encroachment, which is approaching its third year.

At the Munich Security Conference, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski mentioned that French President Emmanuel Macron had proposed a gathering of European leaders in Paris, although France has yet to confirm the date and details.

Trump recently engaged in conversations with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while top administration officials visited Europe to outline a potential strategy for peace that seemed to make significant concessions to Russia. This has triggered concerns about Ukraine’s role being diminished and Europe potentially being excluded from ongoing diplomatic efforts.

“This presents a pivotal moment for our national security as we confront the current global reality and the threats posed by Russia,” Starmer stated. “It is evident that Europe must assume a more significant role within NATO as we collaborate with the US to ensure Ukraine’s future and address the ongoing threat from Russia.”

European diplomatic initiatives have emerged after the new US Secretary of Defense, Peter Hegseth, suggested in Brussels that it was unrealistic for Kyiv to join NATO or revert to its pre-2014 borders. This shift marks a potential departure from the prior US position and has been criticized for potentially granting significant concessions to Putin before negotiations even commence.

The following day, Hegseth softened his remarks, indicating that “everything is open for discussion” during negotiations between the involved nations. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance cautioned that the US could employ economic and military “leverage” against Russia if they do not engage in sincere negotiations for peace.

Trump’s envoy for Russia-Ukraine talks, Keith Kellogg, stated in Munich that Ukraine would be included in peace discussions. However, he clarified that while the views of other European nations would be considered, they would not be directly involved in the negotiations.

Trump has been vocally critical of NATO in the past, urging European allies to increase their defense spending and arguing against what he perceives as an inequitable relationship between the US and Europe.

During his address in Munich on Friday, Vance underscored worries about a growing divide between the US and Europe under Trump’s leadership. He claimed that the greatest risks to European security stem from internal issues, rather than external threats from Russia or China, highlighting perceived suppression of free speech and disregard for collaboration with far-right political factions in Europe.

This strategy sharply contrasts with that of Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, who aimed to strengthen alliances and viewed support for Ukraine as essential for preserving a rules-based international framework. The US and its European partners have closely coordinated their support for Ukraine in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion.

The US appears to be proceeding with its own peace initiative, which Trump indicated would commence “immediately” after his dialogue with Putin last week.

Senior administration officials are reportedly set to meet with high-ranking Russian representatives to initiate peace discussions, as per several sources.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are anticipated to travel to Saudi Arabia for these discussions within the next few days, according to two sources acquainted with the plans.

While specific Russian officials attending the talks have not been disclosed, CNN previously reported that the Kremlin is forming a high-level negotiation team that includes premier figures from political, intelligence, and economic sectors, alongside Kirill Dmitriev, who played a significant role in a recent US prisoner exchange agreement.

Trump’s interaction with Putin and efforts to engage Russia have stoked concerns in Ukraine about potentially being marginalized in decisions that directly impact their future. Zelensky has expressed dissatisfaction that Trump spoke with Putin before reaching out to him.

In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky conveyed that he was “not pleased” with Trump prioritizing a call to Putin over him, warning that an in-person meeting between Trump and Putin before his own meeting would be “even more dangerous.”

Zelensky indicated that Trump has not shown any intention to meet with him first, although the US president acknowledged the urgency to “meet urgently” to outline specific approaches for concluding the conflict.

Zelensky also had a significant meeting with Vance in Munich, describing it as “constructive.”

The day after, during his address to the security gathering, Zelensky asserted that Ukraine “will not accept any agreements made in our absence, without our participation. This principle should apply to all of Europe.”

The war-time leader from Ukraine also highlighted the risk of Europe being excluded from the new peace negotiations.

“Recently, President Trump informed me about his discussion with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe involved in those talks. That observation speaks volumes,” he remarked.