European leaders have called for increased defense spending to strengthen the continent's defense capabilities. However, they remain divided on the deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine to support any potential peace agreement.
The emergency meeting in Paris concluded that establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine without a corresponding peace agreement would be risky. Additionally, European officials expressed their readiness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, contingent on the level of support from the United States, an anonymous source disclosed to Reuters.
\"We agree with President Trump on a 'peace through strength' approach,\" the European official stated.
The Paris talks were convened by French President Emmanuel Macron following a unilateral move by U.S. President Donald Trump, who arranged separate negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These initial discussions, set to continue in Saudi Arabia, notably excluded European allies and Ukraine.
Earlier, Macron and Trump held a \"friendly call\" to discuss the upcoming Paris meeting and the talks in Saudi Arabia, according to officials from both nations.
Trump's recent announcement of direct talks with Putin without consulting European allies and Ukraine has prompted European nations to reconsider their reliance on U.S. protection, highlighting the need for Europe to take a more active role in ensuring Ukraine's security.
Reference(s):
Europe talks up defense spending amid Ukraine peace plan divisions
cgtn.com
