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European leaders are holding an emergency summit in Paris following statements by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Munich Security Conference, which sparked concerns that the US is negotiating a Ukraine peace deal with Russia without European or Ukrainian involvement.
Some shit you should know before you read: At the Munich Security Conference and a key Ukraine defense meeting, US Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made statements that alarmed European allies, reinforcing fears that the Trump administration is sidelining both Europe and Ukraine in negotiations with Russia. Vance argued that Europe’s biggest security threat comes “from within” rather than from external adversaries like Russia or China, criticizing European leaders for their internal governance and reluctance to engage with right-wing political movements. Meanwhile, Secretary Hegseth suggested that Ukraine’s NATO accession was unrealistic and implied that Kyiv would likely have to cede territory to Russia as part of any peace deal, signaling a potential shift in US policy. These remarks came just days after President Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin, later telling reporters that he planned to meet Putin in Saudi Arabia for peace talks—without Ukraine’s presence—before walking back his comments following backlash.
What’s going on now: French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency summit in Paris, bringing together key European leaders to address growing concerns over their exclusion from US-Russia negotiations on Ukraine. Attendees include UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian and Danish leaders, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting comes in response to President Trump’s recent push for direct peace talks with Vladimir Putin, set to take place in Saudi Arabia without Ukraine or European representatives at the table. Macron and other EU leaders have said that they are concerned a US-Russia deal could impose Ukrainian neutrality, cap its military capabilities, or force territorial concessions without input from Kyiv or its European allies.
According to Macron’s office, the summit (being held today) is focused on developing a unified European strategy to counter what many see as an attempt by Trump to negotiate an end to the war without Ukraine at the table. The meeting will also discuss possible military commitments to Ukraine and security guarantees, including NATO membership contingencies if Russia breaches a ceasefire.
This all comes as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to visit the United States on Tuesday, where he will meet with President Trump to discuss the future of Ukraine and transatlantic security. Downing Street has framed the trip as a chance for Starmer to act as a bridge between the US and Europe, seeking to ensure that any negotiations respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and maintain Western unity.
