French President Emmanuel Macron (right) on Monday welcomes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Elysee Palace in Paris, ahead of a meeting on war in Ukraine and European security. Photo by Teresa Suarez/EPA-EFE
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron shortly before European leaders discussed their nations’ security concerns and the continent being shut out of efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The White House readout of the call said it was “friendly” and it lasted about 30 minutes, CNN reported. The talked about “the Ukraine War, the upcoming meeting of European nations tomorrow, and the talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials,” an official said. Advertisement
The “frank conversation” lasted 20 minutes, according to the French president’s press office as reported by Politico.
On Sunday, Macron spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salm,” including “Russia’s war in Ukraine and the role Saudi Arabia could play in fostering a solid and lasting peace, with Europeans at the center of the process,” he posted on X. Advertisement
In Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russian diplomats will meet Tuesday to work toward a peace deal. European nations and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky weren’t invited.
The informal meeting in Paris was for “bringing together all the partners interested in peace and security” in the region, Macron’s press office said.
On hand for the afternoon session were Britain’s Keir Starmer, Germany’s Olaf Scholz, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen, Poland’s Donald Tusk and the Netherland’s Dick Schoof. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,
Council President António Costa and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also attended.
Rutte told CNN: “NATO, or Europe, have to be relevant to sit at that table if they want to. And I think the Europeans are now stepping up.”
After the meeting the lasted more than three hours, Starmer said, “U.S. security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again” though Europe also needs to have a presence.
He reiterated he’s willing to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement in Ukraine.
Starmer made it clear Britain will take a “leading responsibility” in security in Europe, noting “at stake is not just the future of Ukraine, it is an existential question for Europe as a whole.” Advertisement
He described it as a generational moment in collective security measures.
“We have to recognize the new era that we are in, not cling hopelessly to the comforts of the past,” Starmer said. “It’s time for us to take responsibility for our security, for our continent.”
Starmer plans to travel to Washington late next week for a meeting with Trump, two sources familiar with the plans told CNN.
On Sunday, Starmer confirmed his country’s commitment to deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine in an opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph.
Zelensky on Monday was in neighboring United Arab Emirates to boost humanitarian support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader plans to go to Turkey on Tuesday and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
And back in Ukraine on Thursday, Zelensky will meet with Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration’s Russia-Ukraine envoy.
“It is important for him to understand everything and bring it back to the White House. I think that after his visit, after he returns to the United States, we will understand when I will meet with President Trump,” Zelensky said.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy told NBC News’ Kristen Welker that he would “never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine,” and not “any leader in the world who can really make a deal with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin without us about us.” Advertisement
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Ukraine and Europe would be part of any “real negotiations,” during an interview on CBS News.
France’s minister of foreign affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot, said discussions were underway on the deployment of French, British and Polish troops to guarantee a future cease-fire in Ukraine.
In terms of military support for Ukraine, the United States led with 49.4% of all spending, which is $67.2 billion, compared with Germany at 10% and Britain 8% through the end of last year, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Zelensky is hoping for Ukraine to join NATO but that has been opposed by Trump.
Putin wants keep all the Ukrainian territory it has seized, including Crimea in 2014.
