Europe Divided Over US-Russia Ukraine Talks

European leaders convened in Paris for an emergency summit to address the U.S. exclusion of European nations in peace talks concerning the Ukraine conflict, creating anxiety over potential U.S.-Russia negotiations without significant European input. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the necessity of U.S. military support to ensure long-term peace, expressing willingness to deploy British troops to Ukraine if needed. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized discussions of deploying peacekeeping troops as premature, stressing the importance of Ukrainian involvement in negotiations. President Donald Trump's administration is pressing for increased European defense spending, with Trump focusing on engaging directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The summit revealed Europe's struggle to align on a unified strategy, while Russia expressed openness to talks focused on ending the conflict rather than extending it through Western arms supplies. The growing concerns over a lack of European influence in the peace process highlight a pivotal moment for transatlantic relations and European security autonomy.