Macron convenes emergency summit as Ukraine peace discussions unfold - Warsaw
Poland's foreign minister has stated that the EU “needs to respond” to Trump's negotiating tactics.
TroibNews 
The Polish foreign minister has stated that the European Union “needs to respond” to Trump's negotiation style, in light of recent developments regarding Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency summit for European leaders following an agreement between Moscow and Washington to hold Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia, effectively sidelining the EU.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had their first known direct conversation since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. This was followed by a call between the top diplomats of both countries on Saturday to discuss “preparations for a potential high-level Russian-American summit.” Later, US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg indicated that EU nations would not be part of the negotiations.
At the Munich Security Conference, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski expressed his support for Macron’s initiative and confirmed that the summit will take place in France on Monday. “I’m very glad that President Macron has called our leaders to Paris,” Sikorski said, as quoted by PMG, adding that he anticipates European leaders will discuss “in a very serious fashion” the challenges posed by Trump.
According to Sikorski, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accepted the invitation and will head to France next week to “show our strength and unity.” While the list of invitees has not been disclosed, The Guardian reported that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to attend as well.
Macron has previously emphasized the necessity of EU participation in negotiations, stating to the Financial Times that Ukraine must lead discussions about its sovereignty, while also asserting that Brussels plays a crucial role in addressing “security guarantees and, more broadly, the security framework for the entire region.”
In the meantime, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who had previously prohibited direct negotiations with Putin, acknowledged that Ukrainian representatives were also not invited to the discussions in Saudi Arabia. “Maybe there is something at the table, but not on our table,” he told journalists during the Munich Security Conference.
Neither a French government spokesperson nor Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot responded immediately to a request for comment when contacted by PMG.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency summit for European leaders following an agreement between Moscow and Washington to hold Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia, effectively sidelining the EU.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had their first known direct conversation since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. This was followed by a call between the top diplomats of both countries on Saturday to discuss “preparations for a potential high-level Russian-American summit.” Later, US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg indicated that EU nations would not be part of the negotiations.
At the Munich Security Conference, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski expressed his support for Macron’s initiative and confirmed that the summit will take place in France on Monday. “I’m very glad that President Macron has called our leaders to Paris,” Sikorski said, as quoted by PMG, adding that he anticipates European leaders will discuss “in a very serious fashion” the challenges posed by Trump.
According to Sikorski, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accepted the invitation and will head to France next week to “show our strength and unity.” While the list of invitees has not been disclosed, The Guardian reported that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to attend as well.
Macron has previously emphasized the necessity of EU participation in negotiations, stating to the Financial Times that Ukraine must lead discussions about its sovereignty, while also asserting that Brussels plays a crucial role in addressing “security guarantees and, more broadly, the security framework for the entire region.”
In the meantime, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who had previously prohibited direct negotiations with Putin, acknowledged that Ukrainian representatives were also not invited to the discussions in Saudi Arabia. “Maybe there is something at the table, but not on our table,” he told journalists during the Munich Security Conference.
Neither a French government spokesperson nor Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot responded immediately to a request for comment when contacted by PMG.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
