The leaders of the great European powers already debate in a meeting in Paris convened by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the supply of weapons to kyiv, the possible deployment of European troops as guarantors of post -war security within a “coalition of coalition of Volunteers “and the implementation of a peace plan. To the appointment, which has started at 16.00, they have been invited heads of Government of Germany (Olaf Scholz), Italy (Giorgia Meloni), Spain (Pedro Sánchez), Poland (Donald Tusk), Netherlands (Dick Schoof), Denmark (Mette Frederiksen) and, already outside the EU, from the United Kingdom (Keir Starmer). The presidents of the European Council, António Costa; of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen; and NATO general secretary, Dutch Mark Rutte.
Before entering the meeting with the other leaders, as confirmed by the Elysee Palace, Macron spoke on the phone for 20 minutes with the US president Donald Trump. Washington, who has already said that Europe will not be directly at the dialogue table, has asked Europeans to detail what they are willing to provide kyiv within that armor, has also claimed their plans to a hypothetical Russian attack on those future of peace, according to several European sources. Trump and Macron remained again “very soon,” according to the same sources.
The spokesmen and advisors of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, struggled in the last hours to subtract importance to the appointment this afternoon. “It is not a summit”, “there has been more of this type”, “it is only the beginning of other conversations” … but the more they insist, the more they underline that it is “an informal meeting”, beyond the number of participants Guests to the meeting and the undisputed role that Macron has played as an interlocutor during the Russian conflict against Ukraine, there is a reason that clearly supports the election of Paris as the starting point of these conversations so that Europe is taken seriously: its Nuclear force And that, at a time when the world order changes, is a more than valid reason and a message written in the same language that the other great interlocutors sitting on the global table speak.
Aurelien Morissard (APN)
The high -level meeting is held only one day before the meeting that will take place in Saudi Arabia between the US and Russia on the possible end of the Ukraine War. “Europe wants peace. Not any peace: it must be a peace that does not undermine the fundamental principles that we defend, ”says sources from the Spanish government. “For Spain, the voice of Europe must be heard, it must take into account the principles on which the international order is sustained, and where the aggressor is not recognized against the assaulted,” they add.
The meeting has a restricted format, more practical than a summit with the 27 member states, among which there are some, such as Hungary and Slovakia, who have already expressed their discomfort by the meeting called of emergency by Macron. The participation of all EU member states in such a specific debate on security guarantees for Ukraine would have visible the lack of unity and slowness of Europe to take concrete steps.
The Elysee, eager to show Macron’s relevance in this conflict, but fearful of opening fractures between the 27 Member States, says the meeting has also been a request for some of the leaders who will participate in it. According to the same sources, all partners are involved and everyone must be able to participate in the conversation. But the national position is very clear. Elysee sources, who request anonymity, indicated: “We consider that what is at stake in Ukraine is not only the future of that country, but also peace and security throughout Europe. Therefore, we believe that, given the acceleration of the situation in Ukraine and the recent statements of US leaders, Europeans must do more, do better and act in a coherent way to guarantee our collective security. ”
It is an idea shared by the main guests to the meeting, such as the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, who announced before the event that he would ask for “immediately” the defense capacities of Europe, warning that they are not up to the height of the of Russia. “We will not be able to effectively help Ukraine if we do not immediately take concrete measures on our own defense capacities,” he said.
“The security of Europe is at a turning point,” said von der Leyen on social networks upon arrival in Paris. “Yes, it is Ukraine, but it is also about us. We need an emergency mentality. We need an increase in defense. And we need both now, ”he insisted.
Europe accelerates now to be part of the peace negotiations about Ukraine and not abandon the country through the back door after three years of intense support and with the current concern of the Russian threat to European borders. Especially, after President Trump decided unilaterally to contact the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to organize a peace dialogue without counting, at first, even with the Ukrainian Volodimir Zelenski. American representatives have already flown to Saudi Arabia to prepare with the Russians an encounter between Trump and Putin in that country, without Europeans being invited to participate. Hence the urgency and maximum relevance of the appointment in Paris.
The meeting addresses the modalities of the European contribution for a solid and lasting peace in Ukraine, which includes the supply of weapons, the possible deployment of troops and the question of how it should be carried out once it has been signed. In fact, to the voices of the EU who requested the sending of soldiers – with France at the head – the United Kingdom has joined today. “[Lo haremos] placing our own troops on the ground, if necessary, ”said British Prime Minister in the newspaper Daily Telegraph. Declarations that have already opened some crack. Germany, for example, considers it “premature.”
Beyond Ukraine, the meeting plans to advance substantially in the construction of a joint defense and in the increase in the expenditure of each country in the military game. France considers that it is important to note that several European countries are still below the 2% threshold of GDP in military spending, and some are far from reaching it. The idea is to move towards a threshold of 3% in military spending, as suggested by the NATO general secretary, or even 3.5%, as some US leaders have mentioned.
The nuclear issue is also on the table, although in the background. France is the only European country that has Arsenal of this type, prepared to be used independently of the US supply (it is not the case of the United Kingdom). France’s position on this matter is well known and refers to the vision that Gaulle General had after World War II, providing the country with an independent deterrence system. France does not close to discuss around this topic responses to security demands.
But the meeting addresses, above all, the concrete means to strengthen collective defense, either by increasing military budgets, strengthening industrial cooperation in matters or the possible common European financing mobilization for defense. But if some partners wish to address the nuclear issue, the debate will open, according to the sources consulted.
