Yesterday, the leaders of the main European countries held an emergency meeting in Paris, to form a unified front after having triggered the dialogue of the American president Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Ukraine, but they have also expressed divisions concerning the sending forces of peace to Ukraine.
After leaving the Palais d’Elysee, the German Chancellor Ollaf Schultz urged “work together” to ensure the security of the continent.
President Donald Trump aroused his concerns to his European allies according to which the role of the spectator in direct negotiations between the United States and Russia to end 3 years of war in Ukraine, after having spoken last week with his Russian approval, while Ukraine Keith Kelog’s special American shipment said Washington does not want Europeans to the negotiation table.
While it seemed that these initiatives were growing, French President Emmanuel Macron is looking forward to holding this informal mini summit with around 10 European leaders who are in the European Union or at NATO (NATO), including British Prime Minister Kiir Starmer, and his counterparts.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Line, announced that the Paris meeting – which lasted more than 3 hours – “reaffirmed” that Ukraine “deserves peace by power, a peace which respects its independence , its sovereignty and its territorial integrity “.
“Europe fully carries its share of the military aid of Ukraine. At the same time, we must strengthen defense in Europe,” wrote Von der Line, on the X platform.
“Russia now threatens Europe as a whole and unfortunately.”
“For this reason, I am very concerned about the idea of a quick ceasefire because he can give Putin and Russia a better possibility (…) to mobilize again and attack the ‘Ukraine or another country in Europe, “she added.
“We see that this is the result of an acceleration in the Ukrainian file, and also following what the American leaders say, it is necessary that on Sunday, adviser to President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday.
“We will not be able to effectively help Ukraine if we do not immediately take concrete measures linked to our defensive capacities,” said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
When he left, Schultz also called for increasing the “funding” of the defensive effort, deviating from budget budgets in Germany.
Divisions
However, despite the agreement to strengthen defensive efforts on the continent, Europeans differ on another subject, is to send soldiers to Ukraine to ensure its security in the event of a ceasefire, which is at the heart of “guarantees security “that they are invited to provide Kiev during negotiations with Moscow.
British Prime Minister Kiir Starmer announced his desire to send forces to Ukraine on Sunday if necessary to ensure the security of British and Europe. “I am ready to consider land engagement towards the British forces alongside others if a lasting peace agreement is concluded,” he said.
Sweden also announced on Monday that it “does not exclude” the deployment of forces if negotiations allow the creation of “fair and lasting peace”.
For his part, Schultz saw that the debate on the possibility of sending forces to Ukraine was “inappropriate” and “premature”, saying that he was “slightly upset” because of the current discussion.
Tusk, who is strongly supported by kyiv, confirmed on Monday that his country would not send its forces in Ukraine.
In addition, after the meeting, Starmer called for a “security guarantee” to Ukraine, considering that it is the “only means” to prevent Russia from launching a new attack on this country.
“Support must be available in the United States because a security guarantee of the United States is the only way to dissuade Russia in an effective form of attacking Ukraine again,” he said.
For its part, Tusk de Paris has announced that Europe realizes that its relations with the United States have entered a “new scene”.
“All participants in this meeting realize that the relationship through the Atlantic has entered a new step. We note all of this,” Tosk told journalists.
In evidence of the European Union divisions, in Hungary, led by its Prime Minister, Victor Urban, who is close to Moscow and the American president, who was not invited to participate in the Paris meeting, criticized ” Frustrated European leaders who support war and the opponents of Trump who unanimously prevent a peace agreement in Ukraine.