President Donald Trump‘s envoy has sparked fury among European leaders after being told they would be excluded from the Ukraine-Russia peace talks, causing Emmanuel Macron to call for an emergency summit.
US Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, 80, has encouraged Europe to join the conversation about the Ukraine-Russia conflict, but ultimately said they won’t have a final say in the resolution.
‘That is not going to happen,’ he said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
‘And to my European friends, I would say: get into the debate, not by complaining that you might, yes or no, be at the table, but by coming up with concrete proposals, ideas, ramp up [defense] spending.’
Kellogg defended America’s desire to keep the meeting small, stating that last time the meeting included too many countries and no agreement was made.
However, many European leaders are worried about being excluded from the conversation over fears the decision will directly – and negatively – affect their countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron, 47, is holding an emergency summit in Paris on Sunday with European leaders to discuss the matter, Polish Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said there is ‘no time to lose’ and leaders need to meet immediately to discuss a plan.
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President Donald Trump ‘s envoy has sparked fury among European leaders after they were told they would ultimately be excluded from the Ukraine-Russia peace talks
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US Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg, 80, (pictured with JD Vance) has encouraged Europe to join the conversation about the Ukraine-Russia conflict, but ultimately said they won’t have a final say in the resolution
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, 47, who spoke at the conference, had warned European leaders that they would more than likely not get a spot at the negotiation table. Zelensky warned Trump not to deal with Vladimir Putin ‘behind our backs’
‘Europe urgently needs its own plan of action concerning Ukraine and our security, or else other global players will decide about our future. Not necessarily in line with our own interest,’ he said.
‘This plan must be prepared now.’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, 53, reaffirmed Trump wants to end the war in a phone call to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday, according to AFP.
‘In addition, they discussed the opportunity to potentially work together on a number of other bilateral issues,’ spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.
Rubio will travel to Saudi Arabia with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, Representative Michael McCaul told Reuters.
The talks will begin in the coming days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, 47, who spoke at the conference, had warned European leaders that they would more than likely not get a spot at the negotiation table.
Zelensky also warned President Trump not to deal with Vladimir Putin ‘behind our backs’ when it comes to Ukraine’s future.
Zelensky says ‘Ukraine hasn’t been invited’ for talks in Saudi
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French President Emmanuel Macron, 47, is holding an emergency summit in Paris on Sunday with European leaders to discuss the matter
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said there is ‘no time to lose’ and leaders need to meet immediately to discuss a plan. ‘Europe urgently needs its own plan of action concerning Ukraine and our security, or else other global players will decide about our future,’ he said
Should Europe be EXCLUDED from peace talks?YesNoNot sure
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he said: ‘I believe the time has come to create an armed forces of Europe. Money alone will not stop an enemy assault.
‘It is not just about budgets, it is about people realizing they need to defend their own home.’
We need this so that ‘decisions about Europe are made in Europe,’ Zelensky added.
The Ukrainian leader was alluding to a phone conversation between Trump and Putin, after which the Republican president said the two would likely meet to negotiate a peace deal.
Trump later assured Zelensky that he, too, would have a seat at the table to end the war that was sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
‘Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement, and the same rule should apply to all of Europe,’ Zelensky said.
‘A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot.
‘The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.’
Trump’s Ukraine plan still early says Foreign Minister Keith Kellogg
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Kellogg is insistent the deal with make sure the ceasefire is permanent and that Ukraine will retain its sovereignty (pictured: Ukrainian soldiers)
Zelensky insisted that ‘three years of full-scale war have proven that we already have the foundation for a united European military force.’
And noting the presence of NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the audience, Zelensky explained that his idea ‘wasn’t about replacing the alliance.’
‘This is about making Europe’s contribution to our partnership equal to America’s,’ the Ukrainian leader said.
Kellogg is insistent the deal with make sure the ceasefire is permanent and that Ukraine will retain its sovereignty.
The envoy expects a deal to happen within weeks or months.
