EUROPEAN leaders are at war over allowing peacekeeping troops to be deployed in Ukraine.
The continental debates come as the US and Russia sat down in Saudi Arabia to begin crucial peace talks today – with no sign of Ukraine at the negotiating table.
PAEurope has been thrown into turmoil over Keir Starmer’s plan to send European peacekeepers to Ukraine to help out Volodymyr Zelensky’s men[/caption]
US, Russian and Saudi representatives speaking at Riyadh’s Diriyah Palace over peace talksGetty
PAStarmer has made a rallying cry to Europe urging them to ‘step up’ and deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine[/caption]
Europe has been plunged into chaos in recent days ever since US President Donald Trump stepped up efforts to bring an end to the bloody Ukraine war.
Trump has urged both Kyiv and Moscow representatives to achieve peace quickly but in doing so has raised fears over what any deal could mean for Ukraine in the future.
Washington has largely dominated the talks so far with Trump holding a phone call with both presidents and hearing their key requirements to bring about a resolution.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has even announced that Vladimir Putin is ready to talk to Volodymyr Zelensky “if necessary”.
European leaders have since tried to muscle their way into the talks to try and make sure stability in the continent can continue even if Vladimir Putin succeeds in winning the negotiations.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made a rallying cry to Europe urging them to “step up” and deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
The PM vowed the UK will “do our bit” to try and enforce a peace deal.
The bold move put pressure on Britain’s allies to also publicly back the idea of a European peacekeeping force in war-torn Ukraine.
France and Sweden spoke out in favour of the plan at a crisis summit in Paris on Monday but didn’t go as far as Starmer who said he is willing to deploy British troops.
But the idea was dramatically rejected by a number of other fellow leaders.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described Starmer’s pleas as “premature” and “highly inappropriate”.
He then stormed out of the meeting adding that the shear thought of making decisions seemingly on behalf of Ukraine was “irritating”.
A fuming Scholz said: “The discussion is being held over Ukraine’s head, over the outcome of peace talks that have not taken place and to which Ukraine has not said yes.
“This is highly inappropriate, to put it bluntly, and honestly: we don’t even know what the outcome will be.”
The soured debates over Europe’s future took took place during a three-hour chat at the Elysee Palace.
Despite the meeting being set up to try and help Europe have a voice in any peace negotiations it just seemed to open up even more fractures between the rest of the leaders.
Key players expected to use their vast military’s to help put boots on the ground have also raised doubts.
Poland, Spain and Italy all joined Germany in scrutinising Starmer’s plan.
APRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, next to foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov in Saudi today[/caption]
ReutersThe peacekeeping topic even caused German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to storm out of the meeting[/caption]
AFPUkrainian troops are continuing to fight against Russia[/caption]
Sources close to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the chats were “useful” as a whole but the deployment of peacekeeping troops is still far off from being a reality.
The sources close to Meloni’s office quoted her as saying: “The one that foresees the deployment of European soldiers in Ukraine seems to me to be the most complex and perhaps the least effective, and on this too I voiced Italy‘s doubts.”
Poland‘s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also said he would not send Polish troops to Ukraine.
He told reporters before jetting off to Paris that he would continue to support Kyiv through economical, humanitarian and military aid.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez added any peace agreement would need to have the EU and Ukraine actively involved.
Also present at the emergency meeting was the Netherlands, Denmark, Nato and representatives from the European Union.
SAUDI PEACE TALKS
The emergency European summit came just hours before representatives from Washington and Moscow met in Saudi Arabia.
A team of top diplomats from Russia and the US spoke about negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.
The talks – which were quickly drawn up – represent the rapidly growing ties between the two nations.
It marks a major change since Trump took to office with previous leader Joe Biden firmly rejecting Russia and supporting Ukraine as much as possible.
Today’s talks saw US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz all sit down for talks in Riyadh’s Diriyah Palace.
They were joined by outspoken Putin cronies Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushako.
The goal of the chat is seen as opening up for the possibility of Trump and Putin meeting together soon.
US OR BUST
By Jerome Starkey, Defence Editor
ONLY US might can deter Vladimir Putin, Defence Secretary John Healey said today.
Britain and Europe must play their part – but have no hope on their own.
Speaking after Keir Starmer demanded a “US backstop” to guarantee Ukraine’s security, he said: “In the end it is only the US that can provide the deterrence to Putin that will prevent him attacking again.”
He said deals crashed between Putin and Trump will need “a security guaruntee” to ensure it is a durabe peace.
Speaking at London’s institute for Government, he said: “We need a security guarantee for Ukraine in Ukraine that is capable of delivering what President Trump has says he wants, which is a durable peace.
“That requires an end to the Russian attack and no repeat of that in the future.
“The European countries have to play a leading part in that guarantee.
“But it will require a backstop from the US, because in the end it is only the US that can provide the deterrence to Putin that will prevent him attacking again.”
Trump has already said the pair will speak in person soon as he offered up Saudi Arabia as a likely first spot.
Despot Putin is also said to be ready for talks as he has even offered the US president to come to Moscow.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban hosted the talks.
No official statements have been made yet over the crunch Saudi talks from either side – leaving Ukraine and Europe in the dark.
One notable exception from the talks saw Ukraine excluded from the table.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the decision to not be included was uncomfortable but his country won’t accept any outcome from this week’s talks.
GettyFrench President Emmanuel Macron is among the few leaders who are yet to chastise Starmer’s plan[/caption]
GettyUkrainian soldiers fire a D-30 artillery gun[/caption]
European allies have also expressed concerns over a feeling they are being sidelined.
Prime Minister Starmer has emphasised that Ukraine must be included at peace negotiations, warning that other nations risk validating Putin’s position that Ukraine is “not a real nation”.
President Zelensky has also issued a red line on the peace deal, saying Ukraine must be involved in any negotiations or he would not accept any deal they strike.
Speaking on Sunday, President Trump said “we’re moving along, we’re trying to get a peace with Russia and Ukraine and we’re working very hard on it” and he promised that Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky “will be involved”.
US President Donald Trump and his allies have suggested that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky will have to concede some of his lost territory to Russia.
But Zelensky said: “I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never.”
He added: “This is the war in Ukraine, against us, and it’s our human losses.”
Ukrainian officials and other European leaders have claimed they were not informed bilateral meetings were taking place between the US and Russia.
What is Trump’s Ukraine plan?
Before he took office last month, Trump ambitiously vowed to find a resolution within days.
Any new deal is said to involve Putin stopping in his tracks and finally putting to an end Russia’s steadily advancing front line.
European soldiers, including Brits, could then be used to guarantee Putin doesn’t invade again by policing a demilitarised zone.
Crucially for Trump and Putin’s relationship, this wouldn’t include American soldiers, say reports.
In return, Ukraine would be barred from joining Nato and would have to declare neutrality.
The country could still join the EU in 2030, and Trump would want the bloc to drive Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.
The US would continue to support Ukraine’s military, but Kyiv would have to accept Russian ownership of the land Moscow has seized.
The alleged outline for peace was leaked to Ukrainian news outlet Strana – but Zelensky’s office slammed it as Russian disinformation.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed a potential deal last Wednesday at a meeting of Ukraine’s military allies at the Nato headquarters in Brussels.
He said a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders before Vlad’s illegal invasion was unrealistic – meaning Russia would be able to keep the land it has stolen.
Hegseth added that his administration doesn’t see any circumstance where Kyiv would be allowed to join Nato.
His speech was regarded as the bluntest statement made by the US on how they believe the conflict can be stopped so far.
ReutersFears are looming that Vladimir Putin’s Russia may hold many of the cards over Ukraine[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
