The United States has confirmed that Europe will be excluded from upcoming peace talks aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine war, with only Ukrainian representatives at the negotiation table, a top US envoy announced.
General Keith Kellogg made the revelation on Saturday at a global security conference in Munich, stating that while Ukraine would be involved in discussions, European nations would not. This announcement follows former President Donald Trump’s surprise call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging an immediate start to peace negotiations without prior consultation with European allies or Kyiv.
The US decision comes amid shifting geopolitical priorities, with the Trump administration emphasizing that NATO allies should take greater responsibility for European security. “The US has other priorities, such as border security and countering China,” Kellogg explained. When asked if he could assure European involvement in the negotiations, he bluntly responded, “The answer to that last question, just as you framed it, is no.”
The announcement has drawn swift backlash from European leaders. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb criticized the move, emphasizing that Europe must be involved in discussions about Ukraine’s future and regional security. “There’s no way in which we can have discussions or negotiations about Ukraine, Ukraine’s future, or European security structure without Europeans,” Stubb stated at the same Munich conference. He further urged European nations to “talk less and do more” in strengthening their defense and diplomatic efforts.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed similar concerns, urging European countries to be proactive rather than simply complain about their exclusion. “To my European friends, I would say, get into the debate—not by complaining that you might, yes or no, be at the table, but by coming up with concrete proposals, ideas, and ramping up defense spending,” Rutte asserted.
Amid concerns over shifting US commitments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed calls for a European army, arguing that the continent can no longer rely on American protection. “Let’s be honest—now we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it,” Zelenskyy warned.
While European nations primarily coordinate their defense efforts within NATO, the idea of a unified European army has long been rejected by individual governments due to concerns over national sovereignty. However, the latest US stance may push European leaders to reconsider their approach to security and military independence.
Kellogg outlined that the US-led negotiations will likely focus on territorial concessions and targeting Putin’s oil revenues through stricter sanctions. “Russia is really a petrostate,” he noted, suggesting that enforcing economic measures more effectively could be key to pressuring Moscow into a settlement.
Meanwhile, France is reportedly considering an informal European summit to discuss the implications of the US decision and explore alternative approaches to influencing the peace process.
As tensions rise over Europe’s exclusion, the coming weeks will determine whether the continent can assert its role in shaping the future of Ukraine and its broader security strategy.
