The United States wants to exclude Europe from peace negotiations on Ukraine

BerlinThe United States wants to exclude Europe from peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. They would only be willing to consult the Europeans on the talks, but not to accept their direct participation, announced General Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump's special envoy for the war in Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference taking place this weekend.

"I would say to my European friends: participate in the debate, not complaining about being or not at the table, but presenting concrete proposals, ideas, and increasing defense spending," General Kellogg asked. For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been blunt: during his speech at the Munich Conference he defended the creation of a European army. And French President Emmanuel Macron is pulling strings to hold a meeting on Ukraine with European allies as soon as possible.

Europe insists on sitting at the negotiating table between Moscow and Kiev, which Washington wants to boost, as the war is taking place on the European continent and affects them more directly. The White House representative for the war in Ukraine, however, believes that in previous peace talks between Kiev and Moscow the participation of too many countries ruined the process, including those in Minsk, where France and Germany were at the negotiating table. "What we don't want is to get into a big group discussion," said Kellogg, who added that Trump hopes to reach a peace agreement in just "days or weeks," and not in a longer period.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has reacted to the general's remarks: "Europe urgently needs its own action plan regarding Ukraine and our security, otherwise other global players will decide on our future. Not necessarily in line with our own interests. master the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

France is discussing with its allies the possibility of holding an informal meeting on Ukraine with European leaders in Paris on Monday, although nothing has been confirmed yet, sources at the Elysee Palace have said. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on Friday by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, coinciding with the first day of the Munich Security Conference. "If President Trump can really convince President Putin to stop the aggression against Ukraine, it will be great news," Macron wrote on the social network X. He assured Zelensky that he will help him so that "the Ukrainians are the ones who "Lead the talks that will lead to a solid and lasting peace" in their country. "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. There can only be peace if Ukraine's sovereignty is guaranteed," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also insisted in a message posted on social media on Saturday.

Before Kellogg's remarks, Zelensky had proposed in a speech in Munich to create a European army to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid growing doubts about whether US President Donald Trump would help Europe in the event of a threat from Moscow. Zelensky stressed that US Vice President JD Vance made it clear on Friday that from now on, with Trump's arrival at the White House, things will be different in relations between the United States and Europe.

The Ukrainian president has recalled that Europe is already facing a "hybrid war" between Belarus and Russia that uses illegal migration to put pressure on Europeans. "What if next time it's not migrants? What if next time it's Russian or North Korean troops?" Zelensky warned European leaders. "I believe in Europe and I'm sure you do too. I urge you to act for your own good and for the good of Europe," said Zelensky, who did not rule out the possibility that the United States might say "I mean, not act and sit back."

"I sincerely believe that the time has come to create European armed forces," so that "the future of Europe depends only on Europeans" and that "decisions about Europe are taken in Europe," he said. "Does the United States need Europe as a market? Yes. But as an ally, I'm not so sure," Zelensky said, expressing his doubts. "Europe needs to speak with one voice, not a dozen different ones. If not Brussels, then Moscow. That's how geopolitics works," he insisted, "a choice that must be made to respect Europe's power." And he concluded: "Without a European army, this is impossible." Europeans have been talking about creating a joint army for decades, but have not yet done so.

The Ukrainian president has said that it is not about the European army "replacing" NATO, but about equaling the European contribution to that of the United States in the Atlantic Alliance. Trump has demanded that NATO countries spend 5 percent of GDP on defense.

Peace talks on Ukraine

Regarding possible peace negotiations with Moscow to end the war, Zelensky has made it clear: "Ukraine will never accept agreements outside the country." "We do not want decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine. We do not want decisions on Europe without Europe. Europe needs to have a seat at the table when decisions are made on Europe," he stressed, to highlight that the European Union must have a key role in supposed negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky believes that Putin is not interested in peace, but is playing "a game" to try to manipulate Trump and have the US president in Moscow's Red Square on May 9 as an extra. That day Russia commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. "Putin will try to have Trump planted in Red Square on May 9, not as a respected leader, but as a respected leader." props for his show," he predicted.