US, Russia Initiate Immediate Peace Talks on Ukraine, Excluding Europe

Donald Trump announced that negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict will start immediately following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a shift in U.S. policy that has left European leaders alarmed. Trump's defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, articulated that Ukraine's ambitions to reclaim its pre-2014 borders are unrealistic, placing the onus on Europe to shoulder greater responsibility for its security and Ukraine's defense. The United Nations welcomed the U.S.-Russia dialogue as a positive step toward conflict resolution, emphasizing the importance of involving both Ukrainian and Russian sides. Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy for Russia and Ukraine has paused a proposed peace plan to engage with NATO allies individually to gauge their input on the negotiations. European leaders have expressed concerns over being sidelined in discussions regarding Ukraine's fate, with some exploring the possibility of deploying peacekeeping forces. The sudden announcement of this peace initiative has shocked Ukraine's allies, diminishing hopes for continued robust U.S. support.