German FM States: EU Must Participate in Ukraine Peace Talks
Annalena Baerbock has expressed concern over US President Donald Trump's decision to exclude the EU during his recent phone discussions with Moscow and Kiev. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed concerns that US President Donald Trump excluded the European Union from recent discussions with Moscow and Kiev regarding the Ukraine conflict.
Baerbock asserted that any peace talks to resolve the ongoing situation in Ukraine must include both the EU and Ukraine, emphasizing that collective efforts are essential for achieving peace.
Her comments followed a 90-minute phone call on Wednesday between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first communication between a US president and Putin since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. After the conversation, Trump indicated that both leaders agreed to direct their teams to commence negotiations to resolve the crisis “immediately.”
Additionally, on the same day, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but this call took place after his discussion with Putin. Trump's choice to engage directly with the Russian leader regarding a peace plan has left EU officials feeling disregarded.
In a Thursday interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, Baerbock criticized Trump's administration for failing to inform her about the calls beforehand.
“We can’t have talks without involving Ukraine. Peace in Europe is at stake, that’s why we Europeans need to be brought in,” Baerbock stated.
Baerbock remarked on the current operational style of the Trump administration, suggesting that it requires ongoing communication among global players and drawing a contrast to foreign policy approaches of previous US administrations. “This is not how others do foreign policy, but this is now the reality,” she noted.
On the same day, the Weimar+ group—which includes France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, the UK, the European External Action Service, and the European Commission—demanded a role in the negotiations. They asserted that a lasting peace in Ukraine is a “necessary condition for a strong transatlantic security.”
“We have always underlined that … there will be no decision made on Ukraine without Ukraine,” Baerbock told reporters ahead of the group’s meeting. “Peace can only be achieved together. And that means: with Ukraine, and with the Europeans.”
It remains unclear when the negotiations will actually commence. Following the call between Trump and Putin, the Kremlin indicated its willingness to engage in peace talks but emphasized the need to address the underlying causes of the conflict. Moscow opposes Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, viewing them as a significant factor in the escalation of tensions in 2022, and insists on Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification as conditions for peace.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
Baerbock asserted that any peace talks to resolve the ongoing situation in Ukraine must include both the EU and Ukraine, emphasizing that collective efforts are essential for achieving peace.
Her comments followed a 90-minute phone call on Wednesday between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first communication between a US president and Putin since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. After the conversation, Trump indicated that both leaders agreed to direct their teams to commence negotiations to resolve the crisis “immediately.”
Additionally, on the same day, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but this call took place after his discussion with Putin. Trump's choice to engage directly with the Russian leader regarding a peace plan has left EU officials feeling disregarded.
In a Thursday interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, Baerbock criticized Trump's administration for failing to inform her about the calls beforehand.
“We can’t have talks without involving Ukraine. Peace in Europe is at stake, that’s why we Europeans need to be brought in,” Baerbock stated.
Baerbock remarked on the current operational style of the Trump administration, suggesting that it requires ongoing communication among global players and drawing a contrast to foreign policy approaches of previous US administrations. “This is not how others do foreign policy, but this is now the reality,” she noted.
On the same day, the Weimar+ group—which includes France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, the UK, the European External Action Service, and the European Commission—demanded a role in the negotiations. They asserted that a lasting peace in Ukraine is a “necessary condition for a strong transatlantic security.”
“We have always underlined that … there will be no decision made on Ukraine without Ukraine,” Baerbock told reporters ahead of the group’s meeting. “Peace can only be achieved together. And that means: with Ukraine, and with the Europeans.”
It remains unclear when the negotiations will actually commence. Following the call between Trump and Putin, the Kremlin indicated its willingness to engage in peace talks but emphasized the need to address the underlying causes of the conflict. Moscow opposes Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, viewing them as a significant factor in the escalation of tensions in 2022, and insists on Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification as conditions for peace.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
