Europe Insists It Must Be Included In Ukraine Peace Talks

By Alexandra Brzozowski and Aurélie Pugnet

(EurActiv) — European defence ministers made clear on Thursday they did not want to be sidelined in Ukraine peace talks as the US is still yet to signal willingness to bring Europe to the table. 

Since Wednesday evening, Europeans have implored the future of Ukraine should not be decided without Europe or Kyiv, after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed to “immediately” hold peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy then spoke with Trump shortly after. 

The move gave the Europeans a glimpse of what the negotiations could look like: a US-Russia deal with no Europeans at the table – despite the fact the war is on their continent, they have contributed vast amounts of military aid to Ukraine, and slapped Moscow with package after package of sanctions. 

This came just after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth detailed the US lines for the negotiations: any return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is “unrealistic”, Ukraine’s NATO membership is unlikely, and no US troops on the ground. 

In the weeks prior, European diplomats had voiced concern about a scenario where Trump would be inclined  to hold bilateral talks with Putin over Ukrainian and European heads. 

Between worry, denial and acceptance 

The first reactions came from a group of European foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, the EU and the UK on Wednesday evening, saying any future peace deal could not be achieved without the involvement of Ukraine and its European partners. 

They said that they were “looking forward to discussing the way ahead together with our American allies.” 

“There will be no just and lasting peace in Ukraine without the participation of Europeans,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told ministers.  

Germany’s Annalena Baerbock and Spain’s José Manuel Albares both said that “no decision on Ukraine can be made without Ukraine” and called for EU unity. 

“We believe that America’s strength, together with Ukraine and all our partners, is enough to push Russia to peace,” Zelenskyy also said on X, in a nod to Europe.

Europe justifies its inclusion 

European minds did not settle overnight. 

Several NATO defence ministers offered further justification for Europe’s inclusion on Thursday morning, just a few minutes before a meeting in Brussels with Hegseth. 

Europe will be the ones providing security guarantees to the Ukraine, hence there is “no option to not be at the table” Ruben Brekelmans, Dutch defence minister said. Asked who should represent the Europeans at such talks, he did not provide details. 

Others suggested Europe should be included on the grounds that their support for Ukraine has been substantial and impactful. 

“Europe has to be part of these negotiations… Europe has put sanctions on Russia, Europe is investing in Ukrainian defence and Europe is rebuilding Ukraine with European Union money, with our bilateral aid, etcetera,” Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said. 

“For us, it’s very natural also that we as European allies are engaged into these discussions. Last year, we provided about 60% to the military support,” Pål Jonson, Sweden’s defence minister said. 

For the Lithuanians, being included is about military strength.  

“It’s up to us whether we will be sidelined or whether we will stand up to the expectations and to our actual capacity to fight for Ukraine, to fight for our own freedom,” Dovilė Šakalienė said. 

Some, such as Canada’s Bill Blair or Luxembourg’s Yuriko Backes, preferred to emphasise only Ukraine’s role at the table, and did not comment on Europe. 

The British Defence Secretary John Healey said in a brief statement that “there can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine, and Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any talks.” 

Brussels, meanwhile, was quick to assert itself on Wednesday evening. “Any agreement that excludes Europe won’t work. Europe will not be sidelined,” an EU official told Euractiv. 

Next stop: Munich 

The tactics behind Hegseth’s public clarification of the US’s red lines on Ukraine, immediately before Trump announced the opening of negotiations, were called into question by some. 

“The positions expressed by the US Secretary of Defense were well expected, but in negotiations with Russia, it’s unwise to play your cards too soon,“ the EU official said. 

Nonetheless, the comments set the tone for a flurry of further meetings, with NATO defence ministers meeting for a second day in Brussels on Thursday and the Munich Security Conference starting on Friday. 

European diplomats told Euractiv they would use the Munich talks to seek out American counterparts in various constellations and try to hammer in their points when it comes to Ukraine. 

Trump implied that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet Zelenskyy in Munich on Friday.