Europe talks up more defence spending as Ukraine peacekeeper plan divides
European leaders meeting in Paris for emergency talks on Monday called for higher spending to ramp up the continent's defence capabilities but remained split on the idea of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine to back up any peace deal.
During the meeting, leaders stressed that a ceasefire in Ukraine should not be implemented without a concrete peace deal, warning that such an approach could prove risky. They also expressed willingness to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, though the level of support would depend on the extent of American involvement, according to a European official.
“We align with President Trump’s ‘peace through strength’ approach,” the official stated, speaking on condition of anonymity.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened the meeting in response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to organize direct peace talks with Russia, excluding European allies and Ukraine. These negotiations are set to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Macron and Trump discussed the situation in a conversation ahead of the Paris summit. Officials from both sides described the call as friendly, noting that they touched upon the upcoming discussions in Paris and Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke with Macron at length regarding security assurances for Ukraine.
“We share a common vision: security guarantees must be strong and reliable,” Zelensky stated on X. He warned that any agreement lacking such guarantees—such as a temporary ceasefire—would amount to little more than a deceptive maneuver by Russia, paving the way for future aggression against Ukraine or other European nations.
The US decision to initiate talks with Russia without consulting Ukraine and European partners has raised concerns among Western nations, reinforcing the realization that Europe must take on a greater role in ensuring Ukraine’s security.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had previously expressed openness to sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, clarified that such a deployment would require a US security commitment before European forces could be sent.
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