Europe Panics as Trump Courts Putin, Ukraine Left in Cold

Paul Riverbank, 2/16/2025In a significant diplomatic development, Trump's potential summit with Putin has triggered European anxiety and exposed NATO alliance strains. The situation highlights deepening concerns over Ukraine's future, as European leaders rush to respond while grappling with their diminishing influence in peace negotiations.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency meeting of European leaders for Monday, reflecting mounting anxiety over Trump's diplomatic maneuvers. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, offered a stark assessment of Trump's tactical approach: "President Trump has a method of operating which the Russians call razvedka boyem - reconnaissance through battle. You push and you see what happens, and then you change your position."

The diplomatic chess game has taken on new urgency with the revelation that senior U.S. and Russian officials are planning to meet in Saudi Arabia — a neutral venue — to lay groundwork for a potential leaders' summit before Ramadan begins in March. The high-stakes negotiations will reportedly involve U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff facing off against a formidable Russian team including Vladimir Putin's trusted advisers Yuri Ushakov and Sergei Naryshkin.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced deep concerns about being sidelined in discussions about his country's future. "We will never accept deals made behind our back without our involvement," Zelensky declared emphatically at the Munich Security Conference. "If we are left out of decisions about our own future then we will lose."

The situation has exposed growing fissures in the transatlantic alliance. European leaders — caught between their dependence on American security guarantees and their proximity to the conflict — are struggling to assert their relevance. Zelensky's call for a "European army" underscores this dilemma: "Let's be honest, now we can't rule out that America might say no to Europe on issues that might threaten it."

Former Trump envoy Keith Kellogg's blunt assessment that Europe would not directly participate in Ukraine-Russia peace talks has only heightened tensions. "It may be like chalk on the blackboard, it may grate a little bit, but I am telling you something that is really quite honest," Kellogg stated, challenging European leaders to "get into the debate, not by complaining that you might, yes or no, be at the table, but by coming up with concrete proposals."

The diplomatic maneuvering comes as Putin reportedly bolsters his military might — adding 150,000 troops to Russia's army despite Western sanctions and battlefield losses. This development has intensified European anxieties about potential concessions in any peace deal, with territorial compromises appearing increasingly likely.

British Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's planned participation in Monday's emergency summit signals the broader implications for Western unity. "This is a once-in-a-generation moment for our national security," Starmer noted, emphasizing the need to "keep the US and Europe together."

As these diplomatic initiatives unfold, the stark reality remains that any sustainable resolution must balance multiple competing interests — Ukrainian sovereignty, Russian security demands, European stability, and American strategic priorities. The coming weeks may prove crucial in determining whether this complex diplomatic dance leads to breakthrough or breakdown in the search for peace in Ukraine.

In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic activity, European leaders are scrambling to respond to former President Donald Trump's recent overtures to Russia, as preparations for a potential Trump-Putin summit gain momentum — highlighting growing tensions between transatlantic allies over the future of Ukraine.French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency meeting of European leaders for Monday, reflecting mounting anxiety over Trump's diplomatic maneuvers. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, offered a stark assessment of Trump's tactical approach: "President Trump has a method of operating which the Russians call razvedka boyem - reconnaissance through battle. You push and you see what happens, and then you change your position."The diplomatic chess game has taken on new urgency with the revelation that senior U.S. and Russian officials are planning to meet in Saudi Arabia — a neutral venue — to lay groundwork for a potential leaders' summit before Ramadan begins in March. The high-stakes negotiations will reportedly involve U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff facing off against a formidable Russian team including Vladimir Putin's trusted advisers Yuri Ushakov and Sergei Naryshkin.Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced deep concerns about being sidelined in discussions about his country's future. "We will never accept deals made behind our back without our involvement," Zelensky declared emphatically at the Munich Security Conference. "If we are left out of decisions about our own future then we will lose."The situation has exposed growing fissures in the transatlantic alliance. European leaders — caught between their dependence on American security guarantees and their proximity to the conflict — are struggling to assert their relevance. Zelensky's call for a "European army" underscores this dilemma: "Let's be honest, now we can't rule out that America might say no to Europe on issues that might threaten it."Former Trump envoy Keith Kellogg's blunt assessment that Europe would not directly participate in Ukraine-Russia peace talks has only heightened tensions. "It may be like chalk on the blackboard, it may grate a little bit, but I am telling you something that is really quite honest," Kellogg stated, challenging European leaders to "get into the debate, not by complaining that you might, yes or no, be at the table, but by coming up with concrete proposals."The diplomatic maneuvering comes as Putin reportedly bolsters his military might — adding 150,000 troops to Russia's army despite Western sanctions and battlefield losses. This development has intensified European anxieties about potential concessions in any peace deal, with territorial compromises appearing increasingly likely.British Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's planned participation in Monday's emergency summit signals the broader implications for Western unity. "This is a once-in-a-generation moment for our national security," Starmer noted, emphasizing the need to "keep the US and Europe together."As these diplomatic initiatives unfold, the stark reality remains that any sustainable resolution must balance multiple competing interests — Ukrainian sovereignty, Russian security demands, European stability, and American strategic priorities. The coming weeks may prove crucial in determining whether this complex diplomatic dance leads to breakthrough or breakdown in the search for peace in Ukraine.