European Leaders Seek Inclusion in Critical Ukraine Peace Talks

European leaders express concern over exclusion from Ukraine peace talks initiated by President Trump and Putin. European officials fear being sidelined in negotiations that impact regional security. Although U.S. Defense Secretary supports the strategy, tension remains as Europeans push for active involvement in future discussions.

European leaders scrambled on Thursday to gain involvement in Ukraine peace talks after U.S. President Donald Trump commenced direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This move reverberated across European capitals concerned about being sidelined in discussions that will shape their region's security.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized that peace in Europe necessitates the inclusion of European voices. Meanwhile, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu cautioned against opting for 'peace through weakness.' The sentiment was echoed by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who criticized the U.S. for granting what he perceived as premature concessions to Moscow.

At NATO headquarters, tensions were apparent, with Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene warning against overreliance on Trump and Putin's talks, describing it as a 'deadly trap.' Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the American approach, praising Trump as an adept negotiator. European hopes to influence the U.S. stance through recent meetings proved futile as the Trump administration proceeded unilaterally.

(With inputs from agencies.)