European leaders have gathered in Kyiv to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron prepare for visits to the United States.
On the third anniversary of the war, Europe finds itself increasingly at odds with its transatlantic ally, the United States. Under President Donald Trump, the US and Russia have begun peace talks that exclude both Ukraine and European nations, prompting frustration among European leaders who are working to establish security guarantees for Ukraine.
The Road to This Moment
Earlier this month, Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreed to engage in peace negotiations, raising concerns among European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over their exclusion from the discussions.
“No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. … Europe must have a seat at the table when decisions about Europe are being made,” Zelenskyy declared on February 15 at the Munich Security Conference.
On February 17, Macron hosted an emergency summit at the Élysée Palace in Paris to discuss security assurances for Ukraine. A day later, US and Russian diplomats met in Saudi Arabia without Ukraine or European representatives present, sparking further alarm. The meeting, according to officials, focused on mending US-Russia relations.
This diplomatic rift has fueled a public spat between Trump and Zelenskyy. Trump has labeled the Ukrainian leader a “dictator” and accused Ukraine of instigating the war with Russia, while Zelenskyy countered by claiming Trump operates within a “Russian-made disinformation space.”
European Response
To address security concerns, the leaders of all 27 European Union nations will hold an emergency summit on March 6 in Brussels. European Council President António Costa confirmed the meeting, emphasizing the critical juncture at which Europe finds itself.
“We are living in a defining moment for Ukraine and European security,” Costa wrote on social media.
At their last meeting on February 3, EU leaders focused on trade tensions with the US. Now, their priority is Ukraine. According to EU diplomats, the bloc is preparing a military aid package worth at least €20 billion ($21 billion), which could include financial assistance and military hardware such as missiles and artillery shells. The initiative is spearheaded by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who is pushing for replenishing Ukraine’s military stockpiles.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has scaled back its support for Ukraine, urging Europe to take the lead, citing its focus on domestic priorities like border security.
Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, noted that US policymakers seem intent on pressuring Ukraine to accept peace terms favorable to Russia. “European countries are hamstrung by their inability to exert military power, the only currency that holds any sway in deterring Russia and the US,” Giles said.
Europe’s Message to Trump
Macron and Starmer are set to visit Washington this week to dissuade Trump from withdrawing support for Ukraine. The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday, agreeing that Europe must present a united front against Russian aggression.
Russia’s deputy foreign minister confirmed over the weekend that preparations for a Trump-Putin summit are already underway.
Macron will meet with Trump at the White House on Monday, while Starmer’s visit is scheduled for Thursday. Speaking ahead of his trip, Macron addressed Trump directly, stating, “Deep down, you cannot be weak in the face of President [Putin]. It’s not you. It’s not what you’re made of, and it’s not in your interests.”
Starmer, speaking at the Scottish Labour Party conference in Glasgow, reinforced Europe’s stance: “After everything that they have suffered, after everything that they have fought for, there could be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine, and the people of Ukraine must have a long-term secure future.”
However, Trump dismissed the European efforts during an interview on the Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio, stating that Starmer and Macron “haven’t done anything” to end the war.
Keir Giles noted that the current diplomatic scramble mirrors events from late 2021 and early 2022, when world leaders unsuccessfully tried to convince Putin to step back from an invasion. In November 2021, then-CIA Director William Burns visited Moscow for discussions, while in early 2022, Macron and then-UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace traveled to Russia in a last-ditch effort to de-escalate tensions.
Global Support for Ukraine
As Ukraine commemorates the third anniversary of the invasion, numerous world leaders have arrived in Kyiv to demonstrate solidarity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were received by Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak.
Other leaders in Kyiv include Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal. Additionally, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have also made the trip.
Von der Leyen underscored the significance of supporting Ukraine, writing on social media: “Let’s be clear: a free and sovereign Ukraine is not only in the European interest. It’s also in the interest of the entire world.”
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