Russia Asserts No Role for Europe in Ukraine Peace Talks as European Leaders Meet in Paris

Russia has stated that Europe will not have a role in Ukraine peace talks, despite European leaders convening in Paris to discuss the ongoing conflict.

As European leaders get ready to convene in Paris for an emergency summit regarding Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov states that Europe has no place in any peace negotiations.

Lavrov implies that Europe desires the war to persist, stating: “I’m unsure what role they would play at the negotiating table.”

Before heading to Saudi Arabia for discussions on Ukraine with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lavrov shared his remarks. You can read Steve Rosenberg’s analysis here.

Ukraine’s President Zelensky is in Saudi Arabia this week as well, but he states that he is not participating in the US-Russia discussions.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed his readiness to deploy UK peacekeeping troops in Ukraine once the war concludes.

In February 2022, Russia initiated a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine. According to President Zelensky, at least 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives defending the nation. Additionally, on Sunday alone, there were reports of at least three civilian casualties.

As European leaders head to Paris for a quickly organized summit on Ukraine, how does the Kremlin perceive their role in the diplomatic process?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet commented on recent developments, his phone call with Donald Trump, or the mixed signals from American officials who visited Europe last week.

It’s evident that, from the Kremlin’s perspective, Moscow can engage in meaningful negotiations regarding Ukraine solely with the US. Russia views the US as both its greatest rival and its only true equal. In fact, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously indicated he did not see a role for Europe in these discussions.

This is why Europe might find it challenging to justify its place in determining Ukraine’s fate and the future of its own continent.

In our last post, we briefly mentioned that a key group of European leaders, including Starmer, will meet in Paris today to discuss strategies for achieving a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

The spontaneous meeting convened on Sunday night by French President Emmanuel Macron will also feature representatives from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Denmark, and a representative from the EU Council.

Conspicuously missing from that group is the US, as its officials will be in Saudi Arabia—two timezones away—preparing for a meeting with a Russian delegation on Tuesday.

The French presidency has emphasized that this initial round of “consultation talks” should not be overly dramatized. However, it coincides with a time when Europe is trying to respond to a significant shift in the US’s approach towards Ukraine.

Last week, Trump surprised European allies by revealing that he had engaged in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin without prior consultation.

The presidency mentioned that Monday’s meeting might pave the way for other formats, potentially aiming to reassure those who were not invited to today’s EU summit.

However, given the press access provided at the Elysée—with no media presence allowed at the meeting, no press conference planned, and no press entourage accompanying Starmer—it appears to be somewhat of a last-minute scramble.

We are now able to provide you with additional information from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

As European allies get ready to convene in Paris this afternoon, the Prime Minister urges participating nations, such as France and Germany, to “increase” their defense expenditures.

He also stated that the UK is prepared to take on “a leading role” in these efforts.

“This matter extends beyond the front line in Ukraine; it represents the frontline for Europe and the United Kingdom. It’s crucial to our national security, and I believe we must take further action,” he states.

The specifics of a potential Ukraine-Russia ceasefire deal remain uncertain, but Starmer expresses his desire for it to be “lasting, just, and enduring.”

The prime minister stresses that he does not want a pause in fighting, as it would “merely give Putin an opportunity to regroup.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv will not participate in a meeting between U.S. and Russian officials set to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, as he gets ready for his long-planned visit to the country.

Zelensky, speaking to reporters during his visit to the United Arab Emirates, stated that Ukraine considers any discussions about its affairs conducted without its participation as unproductive. He emphasized that they cannot acknowledge agreements made on their behalf in which they are not involved.

He also mentions that his visits to the UAE and subsequently Saudi Arabia were prearranged, implying they are unrelated to the US-Russia discussions.