His administration’s new approach to the United States President Donald Trump’s plan and transatlantic relations to cut a deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Ukraine has worried European leaders.
US State Secretary Marco Rubio on Tuesday held a meeting with a Russian delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sergei Lavarov and aims to end the war in Ukraine.
The meeting in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh comes after talking to Putin last week and agreed to hold peace talks to end the three -year struggle without including her European colleagues. Trump also said that he could meet Putin in Saudi Arabia.
This has expressed concern between European leaders and Ukraine President Volodimier Zelanski, who warned that Kiev will not accept any deal without his participation.
Zelansky said at the Munich Suraksha Sammelan later this week, “No decision about Ukraine without Ukraine … Europe should have a seat on the table when decisions are being made about Europe.”
So what is the new approach of Trump administration, and how will Europe respond to the new reality?
What is on the agenda at the US-Russia talks in Riyadh?
Rubio has interacted with the Russian delegation led by Lavrov, with a special messenger of the National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and the Middle East Steve Witcofoff.
With the target of resetting fragmented relations between Washington and Moscow, Riyadh talks may be prepared for a possible meeting between Trump and Putin. Talks, Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov told reporters, “Mainly dedicated to restoring the entire complex of Russian-American relations”.
Al Jazira’s Yulia Shapowalova said, “The world is stopping its breath as a meeting has started between these high ranked officials in Riyadh.”
Reporting from Moscow, “Settlement of conflict in Ukraine, as well as Russia-US improves bilateral relations-which is a rock bottom hit-Agenda.”
Why are Europe and Ukraine concerned about not being invited to the Riyadh Summit?
Zelanski, who traveled to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, reiterated that he would not accept any decision between the US and Russia about Ukraine.
European leaders have also expressed their concern about the boycott of Europe and Ukraine with discussions, and expressed that they want to be part of the dialogue.
“A fixed peace will never be found to be our support,” said German Chancellor Olaf Skollaz over the weekend after Trump’s unilateral overcher for Putin on Wednesday.
Trump later told reporters that Zelansky would attend the talks, without giving more clarification. US messenger Keith Kelog also tried to assure Ukraine No deal will be done on Ukraine,
Kelog is going to Kiev on a three -day visit.
Kiev, who has lost about 20 percent of his territory and lost thousands of people, would like to make a deal that addresses his legitimate security concerns.
“We want a strong and permanent peace in Ukraine. To achieve this, Russia must eliminate its aggression, and it must be with a strong and reliable security guarantee for Ukrainians, “French President Emmanuel Macron on X on X after hosting European leaders in Paris. Posted.
European leaders are concerned “because neither Ukraine nor Europe is represented. And they feel that Trump will sell Ukraine under the river,” Timothy Ash, An Associate Fellow in Russia and Eurasia Program in Chautham House, Told Al Jazira.
“They are afraid of a similar result on Gaza according to Trump’s messaging – he simply doesn’t care,” Ash said, “Referring to Trump’s proposal after displacing the Palestinians, referring to the proposal to” take Gaza ” , Which will be for ethnic cleaning and a war crime.
How to respond to Trump’s policy change on European leaders Ukraine and Transatlantic relations?
The new Trump administration has left for European leaders for reactions after extending the US Ukraine policy for the last three years and has carried forward proposals that will change the dynamics of the transatlantic alliance since 1949.
On Sunday, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, Calog, announced that Europe would not be on the table for Ukraine peace talks. Last week, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for Ukraine was “unrealistic”.
According to Trump’s rhetoric that Europe should increase its expenses on NATO, Hegseth indicated that Europe should increase its financial and military responsibilities in Ukraine. He also denied the deployment of American troops in Ukraine after signing any deal with Russia. US Vice President JD Vance repeated the same point: Brussels should “take a big step to protect”.
Tram’s top colleagues sting tone and messaging from top colleagues, European leaders gathered to prepare their next steps in Paris on Monday. Macron NATO and the European Union officials along with leaders from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Spain and Netherlands were involved.
NATO chief Mark Rute posted on X on Monday, “Ready and ready.”
European countries have contributed to Kiev in recent years, providing around $ 140 billion in Ukraine aid, which exceeds the US, which has spent about $ 120BN after the war in February 2022.
Ash of Chautham House reported that Europe is “realizing America” is an incredible partner “, because the overcher for Trump’s Putin is being seen as a betrayal by some people by some people.
The main fear of Europe is Russian aggression beyond Ukraine, as the Washington NATO has been the security guarantor of Europe for decades through the alliance. But Trump is demanding that Europe is more responsible for its safety. According to media reports, America wants to get some of its soldiers out of Europe.
In 2014, NATO member states promised to contribute at least two percent of their GDP (GDP), but after more than 10 years, only 23 out of 32 members have honored their commitment. Trump wants them to increase defense spending up to five percent of GDP.
European Commission Chairman Ursula von Der Leyen posted on X on Monday, “We need an increase in defense in Europe”.
The transatlantic crack comes when Trump has threatened to put tariffs on Europe, called the economic relationship with the European Union “a torture”.
European leaders have said that they will retaliate if Trump starts a trade war. Trump has already slapped the tariff standing on several countries including China.
Can Europe provide security guarantee to Ukraine?
Last week, European sources reported that Washington broadcast a questionnaire among European leaders, asking what the country could contribute in terms of security guarantee for Ukraine. Al Jazeera, however, has not seen the questionnaire.
The Trump administration wants Europe to take a front seat in maintaining security in Kiev, as there are other priorities in the US, such as border security.
Anatol Liven, director of the Eurasia Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told Al Jazira that there were important concerns that only Washington and Moscow could negotiate.
“This includes, of course, membership of NATO because it is for NATO, under the leadership of America, to invite new members.”
However, Liven said, “When it comes to reconstruction of Ukraine and Ukrainian membership in the European Union, it will be for Ukrainian and Europeans to decide.”
At the Paris meeting, the European leaders failed to agree whether the soldiers should be sent to Ukraine after a peace agreement.
Kir Giles, a senior Consulting Fellow at the Chautham House, said, “Nothing has come out of public statements from the Paris meeting, which shows Europe that any proposal is close to any proposal, implementing alone, anything,”.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister, has thought of sending British soldiers to Sweden along with Ukraine. But German Chancellor Sholaz has called the discussion to deploy soldiers “completely premature”.
Gills said that in the context of the deployment of soldiers in Ukraine, “Europe’s military heavyweights are either hesitant like Germany or they understand that it keeps its safety like Finland.”
This question raises how – and where – such strength will be made.
“Even though Scolz has written this conversation ahead of time, it needs to be understood to understand what Europe’s goals are.”
