PARIS — In advance of talks between U.S. and Russian representatives regarding the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, European leaders have convened an emergency meeting in Paris after feeling sidelined from the discussions.

The division between U.S. and European positions regarding the conflict in Ukraine became evident for European leaders during the weekend at the Munich Security Conference, remarks Elie Tenenbaum, a defense specialist at the French Institute for International Relations.

“Their greatest fears have materialized,” he states. “They recognize that the Trump administration intends to bypass them and attempt to pressure Ukraine into a resolution with Russia.”

Tenenbaum indicates that European leaders had initially anticipated collaboration with the U.S. under the new Trump administration. However, recent remarks from several U.S. officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Brussels, Vice President JD Vance and special Russia-Ukraine envoy General Keith Kellogg in Munich, alongside President Trump’s recent communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, have dampened any such expectations.

“Europeans now understand they are on their own,” he notes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European nations at the Munich conference to collaborate and establish a European military force. “Our future should be defined by Europeans, with decisions about Europe being made in Europe,” he called out, receiving enthusiastic applause.

“Zelensky is asserting that this is our pivotal moment — either we rise to the challenge or concede and allow Russians and Americans to dictate terms,” Tenenbaum asserts.

The meeting facilitated by French President Emmanuel Macron will include leaders from Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

The U.K. Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, expressed in an opinion piece for The Daily Telegraph that he is prepared to deploy forces to Ukraine to help secure a peace agreement.

According to Tenenbaum, at least three significant European countries need to participate to establish a credible peacekeeping force.

“Ideally, the U.K., Poland, and France should collaborate, along with a fourth ally like Germany or Italy,” he notes.

He suggests that Europeans must assertively push for their inclusion in negotiations to ensure their interests are represented and to prevent the process from faltering if they are excluded.

Tenenbaum will be observing whether European leaders are ready to take the necessary risks and make bold moves to secure their position at the negotiation table.