European Leaders Push for Defense Boost Amid Divisions Over Ukraine Peacekeepers
European leaders met in Paris on Monday for emergency talks on strengthening the continent’s defense capabilities, agreeing on the need for increased military spending but remaining divided over the possibility of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine. The meeting, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise decision to hold direct peace talks with Russia, excluding European allies and Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported the idea of a European peacekeeping mission but stressed the necessity of U.S. security commitments, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed skepticism about the feasibility and effectiveness of such an initiative.
Leaders also emphasized that any ceasefire in Ukraine should be tied to a comprehensive peace agreement to prevent further Russian aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, after a call with Macron, insisted that security guarantees must be “robust and reliable” to avoid another conflict. Meanwhile, European officials acknowledged the urgent need to bolster their defense budgets, with some advocating for loosening EU fiscal rules to accommodate higher military expenditures. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that Russia posed a broader threat to Europe, underscoring the necessity for a stronger European defense strategy.
As European leaders debated their approach, senior U.S. and Russian officials arrived in Saudi Arabia for high-level peace talks set to begin on Tuesday. The discussions, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, are expected to focus on the future of U.S.-Russia relations and the potential for a settlement in Ukraine. Despite signs of differing objectives, both sides expressed a willingness to explore diplomatic solutions. Russia has ruled out territorial concessions, while Trump’s team has positioned itself as problem-solvers seeking economic and strategic cooperation between Washington and Moscow.
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